Joseph Unger


Joseph Unger was an Austrian jurist and statesman. Having studied law at the university of his native city, he in 1850 was appointed assistant librarian, and in 1852 privatdozent, at his alma mater. The following year he was called to Prague as assistant professor at the university, and in 1855 to Vienna in a similar capacity. In 1857 he was appointed professor of jurisprudence at the latter institution. In 1867 he was successively elected a member of the Austrian Landtag and of the Reichsrat; but on account of ill health he had to resign in the following year. Appointed in 1869 by the Emperor Franz Joseph a life-member of the House of Lords, he soon became the whip of the Liberal Party. Two years later he became minister in Prince Auersperg's cabinet, but resigned upon the prime minister's defeat in 1879. In 1881 he was appointed president of the . Unger converted from Judaism to Roman Catholicism in 1852.

Literary works

Of Unger's works the following may be mentioned:
a standard work on Austrian law, which established Unger's reputation;
, a work advocating a dual monarchy for Austria and Hungary, its appearance marking Unger's entry upon a political career;