[1] The seventy-two-year-old Servais was chosen by an eight-member 'Committee for Public Safety' as the new head of the revolutionary government, under the title of 'Chairman'.

For 50 years he was on the board of directors of the S.A. luxembourgeoise des chemins de fer et minières Prince-Henri and in 1878 was government commissioner for the World Exhibition in Paris.

After the end of World War I, he was one of the main campaigners demanding Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde's abdication and the establishment of a republic.

On 9 January 1919 the Comité de Salut Public, consisting of various left-liberal politicians, was founded.

As the Republic was not accepted by the Chamber, and French troops suppressed the republican movement the following day, Servais never took office.