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Published on 7 July 2025

Alfred Escher: a visionary of modern Switzerland

As a key figure behind the construction of the first Gotthard tunnel as well as the founding of the forerunners to both Credit Suisse and ETH Zurich, Alfred Escher had a profound and lasting impact on Switzerland's transition to the modern age. In the fledging Swiss federal state of the mid-19th century, one man emerged like no other in Swiss history to capitalise on the changes taking place and shape so much of the country's political and economic development. Here we look at the extraordinary and enduring achievements of Alfred Escher.

Bust portrait of Alfred Escher (1819–1882) wearing a dark suit, bow tie and waistcoat, gazing right in profile against a plain sepia background.