The New International Encyclopædia/Deucher, Adolf

DEUCHER, doiK′ẽr, Adolf (1831—). A Swiss statesman. He was born at Steekborn, Canton of Thurgau, and studied medicine at Heidelberg, Zurich, Prague, and Vienna. In 1855 he became a member of the council of his canton, and in 1868 he served as a member of the council established to formulate a new democratic constitution for Thurgau. From 1869 to 1873 he was a member of the National Council of Switzerland, and, three years after his reëlection to that body became its President (1882). In 1883 he became a member of the Federal Council, and in 1886 was elected President of the Swiss Confederacy, serving until 1887. He was reëlected to that office in 1897.