The New International Encyclopædia/Puttkamer, Robert Viktor von

PUTTKAMER, pụt'kȧ-mẽr, Robert Viktor von (1828-1900). A Prussian statesman, born at Frankfort-on-the-Oder. He studied in 1846-50 at Heidelberg, Geneva, and Berlin, entered the Government service in 1854, and became Regierungspräsident (president of an administrative district) at Gumbinnen in 1871, and at Metz in 1874. In 1873 he was elected to the Reichstag, where he was prominent as a strong Conservative, in 1877 became chief president of the Province of Silesia, and in 1879 Minister of Education and Public Worship. He took measures against the undenominational schools, and made concessions to the orthodox Evangelicals. In 1881 he was appointed Minister of the Interior and vice-president of the Ministry. His conservative administration, and particularly the methods employed by him in favoring the election of Government candidates, was attacked by the Radicals, notably in a speech by Eugen Richter, and disapproved by Frederick III. upon the latter's accession. He therefore resigned (1888), and held no other office until his appointment as chief president of Pomerania by William II. in 1891.