Gaston Thorn

Gaston Egmond Thorn (3 September 192826 August 2007) was a Luxembourgish politician who served in a number of high-profile positions, both domestically and internationally. He most prominently served as prime minister of Luxembourg (1974–1979), President of the United Nations General Assembly, and president of the European Commission (1981–1985).

Life and career Thorn with U.S. president Gerald Ford in the Oval Office, 1975 Thorn was born in Luxembourg City. His early childhood, however, was spent in Strasbourg, where his father worked for the French railways. At the outbreak of World War II the family returned to Luxembourg. In 1957, he married Liliane Petit, a journalist. From 1961 to 1963, he was one of the aldermen of the City of Luxembourg. Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George