Menyhért Lónyay

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.

Early life and ancestry He was born to an old Protestant Hungarian aristocratic family, dating back to 13th century, as the elder of two sons of János, Baron Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1796-1859) and his wife and cousin, Florentina, Baroness Lónyay de Nagy-Lónya et Vásárosnamény (1802-1885). His first cousin once removed was Count Elemér Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1863-1946), second husband of Crown Princess Stéphanie of Austria, who converted to Catholicism upon his marriage and was elevated into the rank of Fürst on 9 February 1917 by Charles I of Austria.

Biography

He pursued his legal studies in Pest and became a member of the Hungarian Diet in 1843, where he aligned with the opposition, although he also criticized the protectionist tariff system advocated by Lajos Kossuth.

He served as undersecretary of state in the government established following the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, but fled when the uprising was suppressed in 1849. He returned to Hungary in 1850 after being granted amnesty. Upon his return, he advocated for construction projects aimed at improving navigation and flood control along the Tisza river and played an active role in initiating developments in the agricultural and financial sectors. He voiced his support for the autonomy of Protestant churches after the Patent of 1859 posed a threat to their existence.

In 1867, he was appointed Minister of Finance under the first constitutional Prime Minister, Gyula Andrássy, and in 1870, he took on the role of Minister of Finance for Austria-Hungary. In August 1871, he was elevated to the title of Count, and in November 1871, he ascended to the position of Prime Minister of Hungary. However, he resigned relatively soon after, amid allegations of corruption: he was directly accused 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.

Private life

Count Menyhért Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény was married in Pest, Hungary on 20 September 1845 to Emília Kappel (1825-1888), the daughter of Frigyes Kappel (1773-1855). They had four sons:

Count Béla Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1890-1869), married his cousin Baroness Mária Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1849-1893) and had issue: Countess Margit Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1870-1931), married Árpád Vásárhelyi de Kézdivásárhely (1877-1955) Count Menyhért Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1873-1937), married Ilona Kendeffy de Malomvíz (1873-1958), had issue Count Menyhért Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1849-1884), married Countess Margit Forgách de Ghymes et Gács (1851-1933) and had one daughter: Countess Pálma Eleonora Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1880-1967), married to Prince Eugen Zoárd Odescalchi (1876-1917) Count Gábor Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1851-1927), never married Count János Lónyay de Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény (1860-1937), never married

Ancestors +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:László Szemere de Szemere Paternal Great-grandmother:Klára Szentpétery de Erzsébetváros 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:László Prónay de Tóthpróna et Blathnicza Maternal Great-grandmother:Rozália Radvánszky de Radvány et Sajókaza