Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter
Keywords
book review, Swiss American Historical Society, Emil Frey, Swiss authors, Swiss immigrants, Swiss emigration
Abstract
In the autumn of 1860, twenty-two-year-old Emil Frey left his native Switzerland for America, apparently under the shadow of an impending scandal, possibly a duel. He arrived in the U.S. at a time when the economy was in a deep slump, and finding himself unable to get work, Frey enlisted in the Union Army in July, 1861. Despite the brutalizing experiences of the war, which included a year and a half as a prisoner of the Confederates, young Frey's arduous American "apprenticeship," as editor Rappolt describes his sojourn, served him well. Returning to Switzerland after the war, he spent several years editing a prestigious newspaper and beginning a political career. Frey returned to America in 1882 as the first Swiss Minister to the U.S. until 1888, when he again returned to Switzerland. There he served as editor of the National-Zeitung until being elected to the Bundesrat, the executive branch of the Swiss government. In 1894 Frey became president of the Swiss Republic, and continued a life of distinguished service to his country, during which he advocated issues including social reform and Swiss neutrality, until his death in 1922.
Recommended Citation
Burton, Shirley J.
(1987)
"Book Review: An American Apprenticeship: The Letters of Emil Frey 1860-1865,"
Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter: Vol. 23:
Iss.
2, Article 10.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/sahs_newsletter/vol23/iss2/10