Konstantin Stoilov

Konstantin Stoilov
Константин Стоилов
8th Prime Minister of Bulgaria
In office
31 May 1894 – 30 January 1899
MonarchFerdinand
Preceded byStefan Stambolov
Succeeded byDimitar Grekov
In office
10 July 1887 – 1 September 1887
MonarchFerdinand
Preceded byVasil Radoslavov
Succeeded byStefan Stambolov
Personal details
Born23 September 1853 O.S.
Plovdiv, Ottoman Empire
DiedMarch 23, 1901(1901-03-23) (aged 47)
Sofia, Bulgaria
Resting placeCentral Sofia Cemetery
42°42′48″N 23°20′0.5″E / 42.71333°N 23.333472°E / 42.71333; 23.333472
NationalityBulgarian
Political partyConservative Party (until 1894)
People's Party (1894–1901)
OccupationDoctor of Law

Konstantin Stoilov (Bulgarian: Константин Стоилов) (23 September 1853 O.S. – 23 March 1901 O.S.) was a leading Bulgarian politician and twice Prime Minister. Simeon Radev described him as the most European-like of all Bulgarian politicians.[1]

Born in Plovdiv, Stoilov studied at Robert College in Istanbul, before studying law at Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg to doctorate level.[1] Whilst in Germany he became a Freemason.[2]

A career politician with the Conservative Party, and later his own People's Party,[1] he held a number of government portfolios including Foreign Minister, Law Minister and Interior Affairs Minister, and Minister of Finance.[3] His first reign as Prime Minister lasted only for a brief spell in 1887. He returned in 1894 to preside over a longer ministry, which was characterized by increasing toleration for the activities of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization[4] as well as fairer treatment of the Jews (as a lawyer, Stoilov had successfully defended the Jews of Vratsa from allegations of blood libel in 1890[5]). Stoilov's government faced a campaign of criticism from sections of the press as organised by his main political opponent Stefan Stambolov and as a consequence the Stoilov administration enacted legislation against Stambolov, notably sequestering his land for state use and abolishing the pensions paid to former government ministers.[6] The Stoilov-led coalition remained in office until 1899 when a series of liberal administrations began. He remained an important figure in Bulgarian politics until his death.

References

  1. ^ a b c Profile of Stoilov Archived 2009-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN BULGARIA (Part I - from the First references to 1941) Archived 2007-07-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Ministry of Finance :: Ministers". www.minfin.bg.
  4. ^ The Macedonian Issue
  5. ^ Saving the Bulgarian Jews in World War II Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ S.G. Evans, A Short History of Bulgaria, London, Lawrence and Wishart, 1960, p. 141

Further reading