Who played an important role in founding the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), in building the railways and in founding today's Credit Suisse?
Wer war wichtig bei der Gründung der Eidgenössischen Technischen Hochschule (ETH), dem Eisenbahnbau und der Gründung der heutigen Crédit Suisse?
Correct answer: D
- A Conrad Ferdinand MeyerConrad Ferdinand Meyer
- B Robert GrimmRobert Grimm
- C Henri DufourHenri Dufour
- D Alfred EscherAlfred Escher
Why
Alfred Escher shaped modern Switzerland in the 19th century. He promoted railway building, helped found the ETH and founded the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt.
Exam answer: «Alfred Escher». Today: Credit Suisse no longer exists as a separate bank. It was taken over by UBS in 2023 (Federal Council, 2023).
Common mistakes
- A: Conrad Ferdinand Meyer
- Conrad Ferdinand Meyer was a Zurich poet, not an entrepreneur.
- B: Robert Grimm
- Robert Grimm was a Social Democrat and led the national general strike in 1918.
- C: Henri Dufour
- General Henri Dufour led the army in the Sonderbund War and directed the work on the first accurate map of Switzerland (Dufour map).
Topic
Pioneers, hydropower, pharmaceuticals
In the 19th century Switzerland became a modern industrial country. An important person in this was the Zurich politician and entrepreneur Alfred Escher (1819-1882). He campaigned for building railways, for example the Gotthard railway. He helped found the ETH in Zurich in 1854/55. In 1856 he founded the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt, which later became Credit Suisse.
Culture, economy and Switzerland in the world
Economy and transport
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 210 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.