The Bismarck Cabinet was the first cabinet of the German Empire, led by Otto von Bismarck from the unification of Germany in 1871 until 1890.

Cabinet of Otto von Bismarck

1st Cabinet of the German Empire
1871 – 1890
Otto von Bismarck
Date formed21 March 1871
Date dissolved20 March 1890
(18 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)
People and organisations
EmperorWilhelm I
Friedrich III
Wilhelm II
ChancellorOtto von Bismarck
Vice ChancellorOtto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (until 20 June 1881)
Karl Heinrich von Boetticher (from 20 June 1881)
Member partiesIndependent
Supported by:
National Liberal Party (until 1878; from 1884)
Centre Party (1878-1884)
German Progress Party (until 1878)
German Conservative Party (from 1878)
Free Conservative Party
Imperial Liberal Party
Status in legislatureMajority
History
Elections1871 federal election
1874 federal election
1877 federal election
1878 federal election
1881 federal election
1884 federal election
1887 federal election
Predecessorn/a
SuccessorCaprivi cabinet

Composition

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Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
Reich Chancellor21 March 187120 March 1890 Independent
Vice Chancellor (from 17 March 1878)1 June 187820 June 1881 FKP
20 June 18811 July 1897 FKP
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs21 March 187130 September 1872 Independent
3 October 18729 October 1873 Independent
9 October 187220 October 1879 Independent
6 November 187917 April 1880 Independent
20 April 18801 September 1880 Independent
1 September 188025 June 1881 DKP
Clemens Busch (Acting)
25 June 188116 July 1881 Independent
16 July 188124 October 1885 Independent
18 May 188620 March 1890 Independent
State Secretary for the Interior (from 21 December 1879)
Karl von Hofmann
21 December 187931 August 1880 Independent
1 September 188020 March 1890 FKP
State Secretary for Justice (from 1 January 1877)21 December 187630 October 1879 Independent
Hermann von Schelling
19 November 187931 January 1889 Independent
19 February 188920 March 1890 Independent
State Secretary for the Navy1 April 188920 March 1890 Independent
State Secretary for the Post (from 1880)23 February 188020 March 1890 Independent
State Secretary for the Treasury (from 1880)1880July 1882 DKP
Franz Emil Emanuel von Burchard
1882November 1886 Independent
Karl Rudolf Jacobi
188614 September 1888 Independent
188820 March 1890 DKP

Sources

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  • Regenten und Regierungen der Welt, Vol. 2,3. Neueste Zeit: 1492–1917, ed. by B. Spuler; 2nd edition, Würzburg, Ploetz, 1962.