About William Barbey
Lived 1842 – 1914 (aged 72). William Barbey was a Swiss botanist, engineer, politician and botanical collector.
William Barbey (also known as William Barbey-Boissier after his marriage; 14 July 1842 – 18 November 1914) was a Swiss botanist and politician.
Biography Barbey was born on 14 July 1842 in Genthod, in the canton of Geneva, the son of Henri Barbey and Hélène-Marie Iselin. He attended the Academy of Geneva and then studied engineering at the École Centrale de Paris. He built, largely at his own expense, the Yverdon–Saint-Croix railway. However, as a supporter of Sunday observance, he insisted that the trains did not run on that day. He lived in, and was an honorary citizen of, Valeyres-sous-Rances and Sainte-Croix in the canton of Vaud. Barbey served as a Liberal member of the Grand Council of Vaud from 1885 to 1909. He died on 18 November 1914 in Chambésy, aged 72.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Barbey's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Barbey?
Swiss botanist (1842-1914)
When was William Barbey born?
William Barbey was born on 14 July 1842 in Genthod.
When did William Barbey die?
William Barbey died on 18 November 1914 in Pregny-Chambésy.
What was William Barbey's occupation?
William Barbey was a botanist, engineer, politician and botanical collector.
What nationality was William Barbey?
William Barbey was Swiss.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Barbey. https://biography.guide/william-barbey/
MLA: "William Barbey." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-barbey/.
Chicago: "William Barbey." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-barbey/.
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