Ernst-Alfred Thalmann
Ernst-Alfred Thalmann was a Swiss international footballer, jurist, politician and private art collector.
Thalmann was born in Basel, the son of a teacher, and attended primary school and the Humanistic Gymnasium in the city. He then studied law at the universities in Basel, Berlin and Paris. In 1902 he received his doctorate in Basel Dr. iur. In 1904, he was legal advisor and lawyer in Basel and was regarded as a specialist in property law and company law. He sat on the boards of Ciba, the Weyer Bank, the Lederimport AG, Rheinische Reinsurance, Tabakcompagnie AG and further companies and was a member of the Basel Chamber of Commerce.
In his early years Thalmann successfully played football for FC Basel and was a member of the Swiss national team. He played a total of 108 matches for the team and scored 19 goals. He was also member of the FC Basel board of directors. Between 1900 and 1915 presided the clubs board over a period of about ten years.
Thalmann was a member of the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland. From 1911 to 1937 he held a seat in the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt. From 1928 to 1935 he represented his canton of residence in the Council of State. From 1929 he was president of the guardianship of the University of Basel.
As private art collector Thalmann was also commissioner of the Kunstmuseum Basel.
