Camille Decoppet

Camille Decoppet (4 June 1862 – 14 January 1925) was a Swiss politician who was a Federal Councillor from 1912 to 1919.

Biography Decoppet grew up as the son of Henri-François, an innkeeper, and Philippine Alary. He was the brother of Maurice Decoppet, a later forestry expert who managed the Swiss supply of firewood, construction wood and peat during the First World War, and the cousin of Lucien Decoppet, a lawyer, banker and politician.

In 1888, Camille Decoppet passed the bar exam, and practiced law for two years. From 1890 till 1896, he acted as a state prosecutor, followed by a tenure as a substitute judge at the Federal Supreme Court until 1912.

Politics Decoppet held the following political offices: 1898 - 1901: member of the legislative council of Lausanne 1897 - 1900: member of the legislative council of Vaud 1899 - 1912: member of the National Council 1900 - 1912: member of the executive council of Vaud, responsible for education and culture.

On 17 July 1912, he was elected to the Federal Council with a stellar result, and resigned from the office on 31 December 1919. He was affiliated with the Free Democratic Party.

During his office time he held the following departments: Department of Home Affairs (1912) Department of Justice and Police (1913) Military Department (1914–1919) He was President of the Confederation in 1916.