Michael Menzinger

Johann Michael Menzinger (2 December 1792 – 5 September 1877) was a Liechtensteiner civil servant. He governed Liechtenstein for 28 years, originally as the Landvogt from 1833 to 1848, and then as the first Governor from 1848 to 1861.

Michael Menzinger
Governor of Liechtenstein
In office 1848 – 15 March 1861
Preceded by	Himself (as Landvogt)
Succeeded by	Karl Freiherr Haus von Hausen
Landvogt of Liechtenstein
In office 22 March 1833 – 1848
Preceded by	Peter Pokorny
Succeeded by	Himself (as Governor)
Personal details
Born	(1792-12-02)2 December 1792 Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Died	5 September 1877(1877-09-05) (aged 84) Überlingen, German Empire
Profession	Civil servant

Biography

Menzinger was born on 2 December 1792 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.^[1] His father, Franz Xaver Menzinger, served as the Landvogt of Liechtenstein, the de facto head of the country, until 1808.^[2][3][4] He spent his early years in Vaduz and was friends with Ludwig Grass as he grew up. From 1805 to 1808, he attended grammar school in Feldkirch, Austrian Empire. Following the death of his father, Menzinger began studying law in Freiburg im Breisgau, where his uncle, Franz Ignaz Menzinger, was a university professor.^[1][5] He was a member of the Rhenania fraternity in Freiburg and also studied in Tübingen, where he was a member of the Suevia fraternity. After his studies, Menzinger enlisted in the Imperial and Royal Army as a military lawyer, holding the position of senior lieutenant-auditor.^[1]

In March 1833, Menzinger applied to Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein, to become the bailiff of the country, known as the Landvogt (head of the district office). Until Menzinger applied for the post, the position was initially considered undesirable; Karl Heinz Burmeister, in the Historical Lexicon of the Principality of Liechtenstein, noted that previously, "officials generally viewed their service in Liechtenstein as an exile that they wanted to leave as soon as possible".^[1] Menzinger was appointed Landvogt on 22 March 1833 and took office on 5 September 1833, having been delayed to arrive due to an illness.^[1]

In his tenure as Landvogt, Menzinger oversaw the establishment of an orphanage in 1836 and a fund for the poor in 1845, the establishment of Liechtenstein's first secondary school in 1858, and a law school in 1859. The country's first drainage projects started in 1834, a new police ordinance was created in 1843, and a ban on emigration was removed in 1848. He suggested to Prince Aloys II a customs treaty with Austria, something that was signed in 1852 and Burmeister described as "a crucial prerequisite for the industrialization that began in Liechtenstein in 1861".^[1] Under Menzinger, the Canton of St. Gallen and Liechtenstein began constructing embankments in 1848, as flooding of the Rhine had created significant hardship in the country.^[1]

During Menzinger's time as Landvogt, the Revolution of 1848 in Liechtenstein occurred. He "contributed to ensuring that the revolution in Liechtenstein remained bloodless" and was one of the leading members of a council that drafted a new constitution.^[1] He and Karl Schädler were the primary drafters of the constitution and in charge of final editing.^[1] As a concession towards the revolution, the district office was disbanded and replaced by a District Council that was formed on 7 March 1849 with 24 elected representatives and acted as the first democratic representation in Liechtenstein.^[6] In addition, the title of Landvogt was changed to governor (Landesverweser) with Menzinger continuing in the role.^[1] Menzinger served as the first Governor of Liechtenstein until 15 March 1861. Burmeister noted that Menzinger "governed Liechtenstein conscientiously for 28 years, often under difficult circumstances. Unlike his predecessors, he showed understanding for the concerns of the people."^[1] He moved to Munich in May 1861 and later to Überlingen in May 1864. He was married to Luise Schreiber and had nine children with her, including the artist Moriz Menzinger (de). He died in Überlingen on 5 September 1877, at the age of 84.^[1]