Eduard Lasker | |
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Member of the Reichstag (German Empire) | |
In office 21 March 1871 – 5 January 1884 | |
Constituency | Sachsen-Meiningen 2 (1881–1884) Meiningen 2 (1871–1881) |
(North German Confederation) | |
In office 1867–1871 | |
Constituency | Sachsen-Meiningen 2 |
Personal details | |
Born | Jizchak Lasker 14 October 1829 Jarotschin, Province of Posen, Prussia |
Died | 5 January 1884 New York, New York, United States | (aged 54)
Nationality | German |
Occupation | Politician, jurist |
Eduard Lasker (born Jizchak Lasker) (14 October 1829 – 5 January 1884) was a German politician and jurist. Inspired by the French Revolution, he became a spokesman for liberalism and the leader of the left wing of the National Liberal party, which represented middle-class professionals and intellectuals. He promoted the unification of Germany during the 1860s and played a major role in codification of the German legal code. Lasker at first compromised with Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who later strenuously opposed Lasker regarding freedom of the press. In 1881, Lasker left the National Liberal party and helped form the new German Free Thought Party.[1]