Eduard Lasker

Eduard Lasker
Portrait of Eduard Lasker
Member of the Reichstag
(German Empire)
In office
21 March 1871 – 5 January 1884
ConstituencySachsen-Meiningen 2 (1881–1884)
Meiningen 2 (1871–1881)
(North German Confederation)
In office
1867–1871
ConstituencySachsen-Meiningen 2
Personal details
Born
Jizchak Lasker

(1829-10-14)14 October 1829
Jarotschin, Province of Posen, Prussia
Died5 January 1884(1884-01-05) (aged 54)
New York, New York, United States
NationalityGerman
OccupationPolitician, 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]

  1. ^ Harris, James F. (1984). A Study in the Theory and Practice of German Liberalism: Eduard Lasker, 1829–1884. University Press of America. p. 17. ISBN 0819141747.