Simeon Bavier

[1] Bavier was trained as an underground construction engineer at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Stuttgart from 1841 until 1844, and was instrumental in building some of the alpine roads in Grisons.

Coming from a family that was involved in the transport business, he was a staunch proponent of the Ostalpenbahn, a transalpine railway connection through Grisons and over the Lukmanier Pass, which would have fundamentally changed the economic situation of Grisons.

[1] From 1863 until 1878, he represented both the liberals of Grisons in the Swiss National Council.

He was elected to the national government, the Swiss Federal Council, on 10 December 1878 and resigned on 5 January 1883.

During his time in office he held the following departments: He was President of the Confederation in 1882.