Hans A. Sulzer

Swiss industrialist (1876–1959)

His Excellency

Hans A. Sulzer

Hans A. Sulzer, c. 1917 by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D.C.

Minister of Mission of Switzerland to the United States
In office
30 May 1917 – 1 January 1919
President| Arthur Hoffmann
Preceded by| Paul Ritter
Succeeded by| Marc Peter
Personal details
Born|

Hans Adolf Sulzer

(1876-03-17)17 March 1876
Winterthur, Switzerland
Died| 3 January 1959(1959-01-03) (aged 82)
Winterthur, Switzerland
Spouse|

Elisabeth "Lili" Weber

(m. 1906)​

Children| 3
Alma mater|

* University of Geneva
* Humboldt University of Berlin
* University of Leipzig

Occupation|

* Industrialist
* economic representative
* diplomat

Hans Adolf Sulzer (Swiss Standard German pronunciation: [ˈsʊltsər]; 17 March 1876 – 3 January 1959) was a Swiss industrialist, economic representative and diplomat who served as Minister to the Mission of Switzerland to the United States in Washington, D.C., from 1917 to 1919. He was the president and chairman of Sulzer Brothers for several decades.[1][2]

The New York Herald Tribune titled him "business-statesman" shortly before his death. Sulzer was among the most influential business pioneers of Switzerland at the time.[3][4]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Sulzer was born 17 March 1876 in Winterthur, the youngest of six children, to J. Heinrich Sulzer (1837-1906) and Bertha Louise Sulzer (née Steiner; 1841-1927). He was part of the third generation of the Sulzer family co-founded by his grandfather Johann Jakob Sulzer. His brothers, Carl and Robert would also enter the family business. His sister, Jenny Sulzer, would marry Sidney Brown.

Sulzer studied Law and Economics at the Universities of Geneva, Berlin and Leipzig graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1900. Shortly thereafter, in 1903, he entered Sulzer Brothers.

## Diplomatic career

[edit]

Sulzer was a non-career diplomat and has been appointed as Minister to the Mission of Switzerland in the United States from 30 May 1917 to 1 January 1919.

## Personal life

[edit]

In 1906, he married Elisabeth "Lili" Weber, a daughter of Johann Jakob Weber and Elisabetha Weber (née Imhoof). The brides grandfather, Johann Jakob Weber Sr. (1814–1901), was a textile manufacturer (dyeing works "zur Schleife") and Cantonal Councilor.[5] They had three children:

* John R. Sulzer (1907–1990), married American-born Mary Christine Knowlton, both of Locust Valley, New York.
* Georg "Gög" Sulzer (1909–2001), married Swiss American Lieselotte Schwarzenbach (1913–1981), of the Schwarzenbach family, one son; Peter-Georg Sulzer (born 1944), formerly head of Sulzer International division and once BoD of UBS.[6][7][8]
* Alfred Edward Sulzer (1914–1987), married Dorette Merian (1917–2008)

Sulzer died in Winterthur aged 82.

## Literature

[edit]

* Daniel Nerlich, Matthias Wiesmann (Hg.); Weltengänger in krisenhaften Zeiten; Chronos Verlag; ISBN 978-3-0340-1730-5; 2023 (in German)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Hans Sulzer - Winterthur Glossar". www.winterthur-glossar.ch. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
2. ^ Nerlich, Daniel (2023-05-19). "Ein prägender Schweizer Industrieller: Minister Hans Sulzer". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
3. ^ Eichenberger, Pierre (November 2019). "The eternal rebirth of the liberal creed: Alternative temporalities of Swiss neoliberalism". Journal of Modern European History. 17 (4): 390–395\. doi:10.1177/1611894419880407. ISSN 1611-8944.
4. ^ "HANS SULZER, 83, DIES; Swiss Industrialist Had Been Washington Minister in '17". The New York Times. 1959-01-05. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
5. ^ "Johann Jakob Weber - Winterthur Glossar". www.winterthur-glossar.ch. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
6. ^ "Tod von Georg Sulzer". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). 2001-07-21. ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
7. ^ Tagliabue, John; Times, Special To the New York (1982-12-07). "MACHINERY MAKERS IN SWITZERLAND HAVE ROUGH YEAR". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
8. ^ Keller, Stefan (2021-05-04). "Das Vermächtnis". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN 0376-6829. Retrieved 2024-04-05.

*[c.]: circa
*[m.]: married