Emil_Frey

Early life

Frey was born in Arlesheim, Switzerland, as the son of Emil Remigius Frey. His father was liberal separatist politician.

Frey's family provided refuge for Friedrich Hecker when he fled the repression following the revolution in Germany in 1848. He later emigrated to the USA arriving in Belleville, Illinois an area with many Forty-Eighters, veterans of the 1848 revolutions in Europe. For a while he worked for Hecker, but they had a falling out.¹

Career during the American Civil War

Frey entered the unionist 24th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment‎ as a private. Hecker was his commander, and they became friends again, with Frey sharing a tent with Hecker's son. Frey was made ensign and later rose to the rank of colonel, raising the 82nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 and held in Libby Prison for eighteen months before being exchanged for Captain Gordon, a Confederate prisoner under sentence of death.²

Swiss politician

After the Civil War, Frey returned to Switzerland. From 1866 to 1872, he was a member of the cantonal government of Basel-Country. In 1870, he married Emma Kloss (1848-1877) with whom he had five children.

In 1872, Frey was elected to the Swiss National Council, council he presided in 1875/1876.

From 1882 to 1888, Frey was the first ambassador (Minister) of Switzerland to the United States in Washington.

He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on December 11, 1890 and handed over office on March 31, 1897. He was affiliated to the Free Democratic Party. During his office time he held the Military Department.

From 1897 to 1921, Frey was director of the International Telegraph Union.³

Preceded by Jakob Stämpfli	President of the Swiss National Council 1875/1876	Succeeded by Arnold Otto Aepli
Preceded by Bernhard Hammer	Member of the Swiss Federal Council 1890–1897	Succeeded by Ernst Brenner