Heinrich Escher, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Heinrich Escher

Swiss politician, 1626 - 1710

Date of Birth: 26-Jul-1626

Place of Birth: Zürich, canton of Zürich, Switzerland

Date of Death: 20-Apr-1710

Profession: politician, merchant

Nationality: Switzerland

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Heinrich Escher (* 26 July 1626; † 20 April 1710) was mayor of the City and Republic of Zürich at the turn of the 18th Century.
He is credited with introducing chocolate to Switzerland after learning about it in Brussels. At the beginning of his political career in 1652 he became a representative of the guild the Meisen to the large council of Zurich (Zwölfer) and between 1663 -1668 to the small council.
In 1669 he became bailiff (Vogt) of Kyburg and from 1678 until his death he was mayor of Zürich. He was active as a merchant in the textile trade.
As a representative of the buyers he was a member of the delegation for the renewal of the alliance of Zürich with Ludwig XIV.
After the Threat of Geneva and the Waldenser taken up there and Huguenot by France, Escher in 1687 together with a representative of Berne came to the court of Ludwig XIV.
He was sent to represent the interests of the Evangelist conditions in Zürich and Berne and the conditions Geneva allied with them.