ANTON VON

SCHMERLING (1805-1893)  , Austrian statesman, was born on the 23rd of August 18o5 at Vienna, where his father held a high position on the judicial side of the civil service . After studying law at Vienna, in 1829 he entered the public service, and during the next eighteen years was constantly occupied, chiefly in Lower Austria . In 1847, as a member of the lesser nobility, he entered the Estates of Lower Austria; and took an active part in the Liberal movement for administrative and constitutional reform of which they were the centre . On the outbreak of the revolution in Vienna in March 1848, when the mob broke into the Assembly, Schmerling was one of the deputation which carried to the palace the demands of the people, and during the next few days he was much occupied in organizing the newly formed National Guard . At the end of the month he was sent by the ministry to Frankfort as one of the men of " public confidence." He soon succeeded Count Colleredo as president of the Diet, and in this capacity officially transferred to the archduke John, who had been elected regent of Germany, the powers of the Diet .