Rolin-Jaequemyns, Gustave, 1835-1902 (Belgian advocate and founder of the Institut de Droit International)

Dates

• Existence: 1835 - 1902

Biography

Gustave Henri Ange Hippolyte Rolin-Jaequemyns was the eldest of the 15 children of Hippolyte Rolin and Angélique Hellebaut. He was raised in Ghent and educated in law at the University of Ghent. He studied further in Berlin. In 1859, he married Emilie Jaequemyns of a notable and wealthy family.

Rolin-Jaequemyns, alongside Tobias Asser and John Westlake, established the periodical 'Revue de Droit International et de Législation Comparée'. This was the first academic journal ever devoted to international law. After the Franco-German war of 1870-71, in which the Geneva Convention of 1863 was largely ignored, Rolin-Jaequemyns, Francis Lieber and Gustave Moynier founded the Institut de Droit International. This institute exists today as a body of legal experts on international law. It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1904, two years after Rolin Jaequemyn's death. His expertise on international law was widely recognised. He received honourary doctorates from the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge, Oxford and Brussels.

Rolin-Jaequemyns was deeply religious, but staunchly advocated for the separation of church and state.

In 1889, King Leopold II of Belgium appointed Jaequemyns member of the High Council for the independent state of the Congo Free State.

Found in 28 Collections and/or Records: