Jean-Antoine Auguste Metz (8 August 1812 – 22 June 1854) was a Luxembourgish entrepreneur, politician, and lawyer. He was a major player in the growing steel industry in Luxembourg during the nineteenth century, as well as a leading liberal member of the Chamber of Deputies, along with his brothers.
Born in Luxembourg City as the youngest of nine children of Jean Metz, Auguste Metz attended the Athénée de Luxembourg, before leaving to study law at the University of Paris in 1833.Mersch (1963), p. 549 He gained his licence to practice law in France, but returned to Luxembourg, where he became involved in the steel industry. In 1837, Metz and his brothers Charles and Norbert, were given a ten-year lease of the steel mill at Berbourg. They formed a company, Auguste Metz & Cie, along with Théodore Pescatore, for the purpose of expanding and redeveloping the site.Mersch (1963), p. 550 The company expanded, taking over foundries at Grundhof,Mersch (1963), p. 553 in the Red Lands,Mersch (1963), p. 554 at Eich,Mersch (1963), p. 557 and at Fischbach.Mersch (1963), p. 563
He first became involved in politics through his opposition to the Third Partition of Luxembourg in 1839.Mersch (1963), p. 564 In 1848, Metz sat on Luxembourg's Constituent Assembly, and then the first Chamber of Deputies, elected in 1848 to represent Grevenmacher. He was targeted in the 1854 election by the Simons government.Mersch (1963), p. 565 He would not live to see the assembly of the new Chamber of Deputies, however, as he died in Eich just eight days after the election, having fallen ill inspecting the foundry at Berbourg, exacerbated by tonsillitis.
He married Petronille Laeis on 17 August 1841. They had four children, including Léon Metz, who became a member of the Chamber of Deputies for forty-three years and Mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette for three years.Mersch (1963), p. 399
See also Metz family
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