Aurelian, Petre

Born Dec. 13, 1833, in Slatina; died Jan. 24, 1909, in Bucharest. Rumanian economist, publicist, political figure. Educated in Rumania and France. Member of the Rumanian Academy of Sciences (1871); served as its president (1900–04).

Aurelian was the initiator and director of numerous economic and scientific-cultural societies. He also served as a deputy, senator, minister, and prime minister (1896–97). He was one of the organizers of advanced agricultural education and scientific economic research in Rumania. A supporter of the agrarian reforms of 1864, Aurelian favored the modernization of agriculture and the amelioration of the position of the peasantry. He also fought for his country’s industrial development. Aurelian was the founder and director of the periodicals Monitorul comunelor (Public Herald), Agronomia, Revistȃ stiinţificä, Economia ruralȃ, and Economica naţionalȃ. He wrote many articles and scientific works.