Hans Hermann Freiherr von Berlepsch

Freiherr Von Berlepsch, Hans Hermann (b. March 30, 1843, Dresden; d. June 2, 1926, Seebach (Thüringen) was a Prussian lawyer, politician and social reformer. He became trade minister, and initiated the new exchange rate policy. He also founded the Internationale Vereinigung für gesetzlichen Arbeiterschutz (International Union for the Protection of Workers)

Life

The youngest son of August Adolph Freiherr von Verlepsch studied jurisprudence in Göttingen, where he became a member of the "Corps Saxonia." In 1872, he became district administrator in Kattowitz. In 1881, he was named Deputy governor (Regierungspräsident ) for Koblenz and in 1884 he accepted a similar position in Düsseldorf. In October 1889 von Berlepsch as appointed to the top position (Oberpräsident) of the Rhine province. While in this position, he served as a negotiator during a miner strike, which brought him into close contact with representatives of the workers' movement for the first time. He treated the labor leaders with respect which was unusual for a Prussian nobleman of the time.

On 31 January 1890 Berlepsch took over the Prussian Ministry fof Commerce and Trade based on his extensive knowledge of east west trade; in this function he was extensively involved in commercial politics. He served as Prussian Minister of Commerce and Trade (1890-1896).