Menyhért Count Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (6 January 1822, in Nagylónya – 3 November 1884, in Budapest) was a Hungarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Hungary from 1871 to 1872.

Menyhért Lónyay
de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary
In office
14 November 1871 – 4 December 1872
MonarchFrancis Joseph I
Preceded byGyula Andrássy
Succeeded byJózsef Szlávy
Personal details
Born(1822-01-06)6 January 1822
Nagylónya (today Lónya), Hungary
Died3 November 1884(1884-11-03) (aged 62)
Budapest, Hungary
Political partyOpposition Party (1847–1849)
Deák Party (1865–1875)
Liberal Party (1875–1884)
SpouseFlorenina Lónyay
ChildrenMenyhért
Albert
Etelka
Kálmán
János
József

He was born to an aristocratic Protestant family, and studied law in Pest. He became a member of the Hungarian Diet in 1843, where he was a member of the opposition, though he also opposed the protectionist tariff system of Lajos Kossuth. He was undersecretary of state in the government brought to power by the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and fled when the rebellion was put down in 1849. He returned to the country in 1850 with amnesty granted. After his return, he championed the construction works intended to provide navigation and flood control over the Tisza river and had an active role in launching projects in the agricultural and financial sectors. He protested in favor of the autonomy of Protestant churches after the Patent of 1859 endangered them.

He was appointed Minister of Finance under the first constitutional Prime Minister, Gyula Andrássy, in 1867, and in 1870 became the Minister of Finance of Austria-Hungary. In August 1871 he was raised to the rank of Count, and in November 1871 he became Prime Minister of Hungary. He was driven off office relatively quickly, however, amidst accusations of corruption: He was accused directly by a member of the Diet on 18 November 1872, and was dismissed on 2 December of that year. He became a member of the upper chamber of the Diet in 1875, and died in 1884.

Ancestors edit

Menyhért Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény's ancestors in three generations
Menyhért Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény Father:
János Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Paternal Grandfather:
Menyhért Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Baron László Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Zsófia Darvas de Nagy-Réth
Paternal Grandmother:
Erzsébet Szemere de Szemere
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Mother:
Florentina Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Maternal Grandfather:
Gábor Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Maternal Great-grandfather:
János Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Florentina Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény
Maternal Grandmother:
Piroska Prónay de Tóthpróna et Blathnicza
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Maternal Great-grandmother:

References edit

  • "Lónyay". Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (in German). Vol. 10 (4th ed.). 1890. pp. 910–911.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
1867–1870
Succeeded by
Preceded by Joint Minister of Finance of Austria-Hungary
1870–1871
Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Hungary
1871–1872
Succeeded by
Minister of Defence
1871–1872
Cultural offices
Preceded by President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1871–1884
Succeeded by