(1797-1869) Statesman; born Altstätten, Switzerland; died Saint Gall. As chief magistrate of Saint Gall he labored to reorganize the Swiss confederation somewhat on the lines of the United States. Influenced by Josephinism, he first advocated state control of the Church, but the plundering of the monasteries in 1841 by his political associates changed his views and he came over to the policy of his former opponents. Through his efforts was erected the See of Saint Gall. Retiring from politics in 1864 he devoted himself to local history and wrote a work on Saint Gall.