Henri Carton de Wiart

Who was Henri Carton de Wiart?

Henri Victor Marie Ghislain, Count Carton de Wiart was the 23rd Prime Minister of Belgium from 20 November 1920 to 6 May 1921. He was from an aristocratic family.

Born in Brussels, Carton de Wiart studied law and became a lawyer. He was elected to the Belgian House of Representatives as a left wing Catholic Party member in 1896. He remained a Member of Parliament until his death in 1951.

Besides serving as prime minister from 1920 to 1921 in a government of national union, he served as minister of justice from 1911 to 1918, as Belgian delegate to the League of Nations from 1928 to 1935, and as minister of social welfare from 1932 to 1934. After the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940, Carton de Wiart accompanied the Belgian government into exile in London.

Having been given the honorific title of Minister of State, Carton de Wiart again served as minister of justice for a short time in 1950.

Carton de Wiart was a cousin of the famous British general, Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart.