Pierre De Decker

He was a member of parliament from 1839 to 1866. De Decker was at the origin of a 'Petition in favour of the Flemish language' in 1840 and of the setting up of a 'Committee on Flemish Grievances' in 1855. In 1855 he became Minister of the Interior and the prime minister of Belgium. He attempted, by combining the moderate elements of the Catholic and Liberal parties, the impossible task of resolving the educational and other questions then dividing Belgium. In 1866 he retired from politics and went into business, with disastrous results. He became involved in financial speculations which lost him his good name as well as the greater part of his fortune; and, though he was never proved to have been more than the victim of clever operators, when in 1871 he was appointed by the Catholic cabinet governor of Limburg, the outcry was so great that he resigned the appointment and retired definitively into private life. He died in 1891.

• Name — Pierre de Decker • Office — Prime Minister of Belgium • Monarch — Leopold I • Term Start — 30 March 1855 • Term End — 9 November 1857 • Predecessor — Henri de Brouckère • Successor — Charles Rogier • Born — 25 January 1812 • Birthplace — Zele • Died — 4 January 1891 • Place of death — Schaerbeek • Party — Catholic Party

Pierre De Decker worked in politics. Recorded positions include Prime Minister of Belgium, member of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium and interior minister. He belonged to Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium.