ASSER, TOBIAS MICHAEL CAREL

(1838–1913)

Jurist. After finishing his study of law in Amsterdam and Leiden, Asser became professor of civil law (1862–1877) and of commercial and international law (1877–1893) at the University of Amsterdam. In 1893, he was appointed a member of the Council of State, an important constitutional body that advised on all bills introduced in Parliament. Asser was one of the founders of the Revue de Droit International et de Legislation Comparee (1869) and the Institut de Droit International (1873). In 1892, he presided over the conferences on international private law (first held at The Hague). In 1911, Asser was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and in the same year he became a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.