Geer, Louis de

Born July 18, 1818, in Finspang; died Sept. 24, 1896, in Truesdorp. Swedish statesman; a baron.

Geer was educated as a lawyer. From 1858 to 1870 he was minister of justice. He was Sweden’s first prime minister (1876-80) and simultaneously served as minister of justice (1876-79). He developed and in 1863 introduced in the Riksdag a moderately liberal project for the creation of a bicameral parliament to take the place of the existing Riksdag of the four estates. His plan provided for electoral property qualifications, which were not based on class. Geer’s project was accepted by the four estates’ Riksdag in 1866.