Paul Ludwig Adalbert Falk (10 August 18277 July 1900) was a German

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. Falk was born in Metschkau (Mieczków), Silesia. In 1847, he entered the Prussian state service, and in 1853, he became public prosecutor at Lyck (now Ełk). In 1858, he was elected a deputy and joined the Old Liberal Party. In 1868, he became a privy councillor in the ministry of justice. In 1872, he was made minister of education and, in connection with

Otto von Bismarck Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (; born ''Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck''; 1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898) was a German statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany and served as ...

's policy of the Kulturkampf, was responsible for the Falk Laws, or May Laws, against the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. In 1879, with his position becoming untenable because of the death of

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX (; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in hist ...

and the change of German policy with regard to the Vatican, he resigned his office but retained his seat in the Reichstag until 1882. He was then made president of the supreme court of justice at Hamm, where he died in 1900.

References

1827 births 1900 deaths People from Środa Śląska County Politicians from the Province of Silesia German Protestants Free Conservative Party politicians National Liberal Party (Germany) politicians Members of the Prussian House of Representatives Members of the 2nd Reichstag of the German Empire Members of the 3rd Reichstag of the German Empire Members of the 4th Reichstag of the German Empire Members of the 5th Reichstag of the German Empire Members of the Prussian Academy of Sciences Education ministers of Prussia Members of the Reichstag of the North German Confederation {{Germany-politician-stub