Peter Pokorny

Peter Pokorny (4 October 1795 – 1866) was an Austrian civil servant and legal advisor to the House of Liechtenstein. He served as Landvogt of Liechtenstein from 1827 to 1833; his time in office was marked by civil office registry reform and centralization, but he was considered an unpopular official who did not understand the concerns of the Liechtenstein population.

Life Pokorny was born on 4 October 1795 in Bučovice, Moravia. He studied law and then was a legal trainee in Rabensburg. He was the chief administrator of an estate owned by the House of Kinsky from 1820 until he became a legal advisor to the House of Liechtenstein in 1822, serving at the estate in Sternberg (now Šternberk).

On 1 February 1827, Pokorny was appointed as Landvogt, the head of the Liechtenstein district office (Oberamt), having been introduced to the position by his predecessor Josef Schuppler. His time in office was characterized by reforming the district office's registry, the establishment of a Liechtenstein school law in 1827, and the establishment of a permeant police force in 1828 consisting of two officers. In addition, he introduced a tax on salt in 1830, which despite being unpopular introduced a significant source of state income. In response, in February 1832 Johann I Joseph threatened to invade his principality with Austrian troops, and in August imposed a decree threatening severe punishments for incitement; due to this, the unrest was ultimately quelled.

In July 1833, Pokorny was appointed as the a civil judge and captain of the castle in the Duchy of Troppau. As such, after introducing his successor Michael Menzinger to the role, he left office on 30 June 1833. He was the Burgrave of Jägerndorf (now Krnov) from 1834 to 1835, and then from 1847 the chief magistrate of Rumburg (now Rumburk). He retired in 1860 and died in 1866.