Richard Meier (politician)

Richard Meier (8 December 1906 – 28 December 1982) was a dentist and political figure from Liechtenstein who served as the President of the Progressive Citizens' Party from 1945 to 1970.

Richard Meier
Leader of the Liechtenstein Loyalty Association
In office
July 1940 – 1945
Preceded byAlois Schädler
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born8 December 1906
Nendeln, Liechtenstein
Died28 December 1982 (aged 76)
Schaan, Liechtenstein
Political partyProgressive Citizens' Party
Other political
affiliations
Liechtenstein Loyalty Association (1939–1945) Liechtenstein Homeland Service (1933–1934)
Spouse
Marlene Heckmann
(m. 1938, divorced)
Children5
ProfessionDentist

Early life

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Meier was born on 8 December 1906 in Nendeln to the son of Jakob Meier and his mother Maria Biedermann. He had his matura at the Stella Matutina and then studied theology, philosophy, sociology and dentistry in the University of Innsbruck, Bergamo and in the University of Bonn.[1]

Career

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From 1932 Meier worked as a private dentist in Schaan. He was a founding member of the Liechtenstein Homeland Service in 1933, however he soon left the party in 1934 due to its movement towards National Socialism.[1] Following the 1939 Liechtenstein putsch, he was a founding member of the Liechtenstein Loyalty Association, which was designed to counteract the operations of the German National Movement in Liechtenstein (VBDL). He was the association's leader from July 1940 until its disbandment in 1945.[2]

Meier was President of the Progressive Citizens' Party from 1945 to 1975.[3] In 1973, he was a founding member of the Liechtenstein Society for Environmental Protection, and its chairman from 1973 to 1979.[1] He was also a founding member of the Liechtenstein Dental Association and in 1960 he was awarded the title of "Princely Medical Councillor" by Franz Joseph II due to his service to the country and that of a dentist to the royal family.[1][4]

Personal life

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Meier married Marlene Heckmann in 1933 and they had 5 children together. They got divorced at an unknown date.[1]

He died on 28 December 1982 in Schaan, aged 76 years old.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Meier Richard, Dr. med. dent". Staatsarchiv des Fürstentum Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  2. ^ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Heimattreue Vereinigung Liechtenstein". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ^ Marxer, Wilfred (31 December 2011). "Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei (FBP)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Fürstlicher Medizinalrat Dr. Richard Meier". EinTracht: 9. 2009. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.