5 great men of the EEC 27.4.1963

The two first day covers shown here have stamps featuring a series of 5 great men of the EEC. Ludwig van Beethoven (0,20 F), Émile Verhaeren (0,20 F), Giuseppe Mazzini (0,20 F), Émile Mayrisch (0,20 F) and Hugo de Groot (0,30 F).

Here is the only stamp made by La Poste (the French postal service) depicting the composer Ludwig van Beethoven (0,20 F).  One of the greatest genius' of music, born December 16th 1770 at Bonn. His most extraordinary works were written between 1815 and 1826 - he wrote, amongst others, five sonatas for piano; in 1822 the Mass in D, a collossal and complex piece; the ninth and last symphony in 1824. In the two years of 1824/1826 he wrote five quartets. But luck abandoned him. Deaf for several years, he became ill in the winter of 1826-1827, a pulmonary congestion became apparent, then digestion troubles, a hydropisy and on March 26th 1827 he gave up."

Emile Verhaeren (21 May 1855 – 27 November 1916) was a Belgian poet who wrote in the French language, and one of the chief founders of the school of Symbolism. He was one of the most prolific poets of his era. His first collection of poems Les Flamandes was published in 1883. Inspired by the paintings of Jacob Jordaens, David Teniers and Jan Steen, Verhaeren described in a direct and often provocative, naturalistic way his country and the Flemish people. It was an immediate success in avant-garde milieus, but caused a great deal of controversy in Catholic circles. His next book Les Moines (1886) was not the success he had hoped for. This, and his health problems, led to a deep crisis. In this period he published Les Soirs (1888), Les Débâcles (1888) and Les Flambeaux noirs(1891).

Giuseppe Mazzini (22 June 1805 – 10 March 1872), was an Italian politician, journalist and activist for the unification of Italy. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy in place of the several separate states, many dominated by foreign powers, that existed until the 19th century. He also helped define the modern European movement for popular democracy in a republican state. Often viewed in the Italy of the time as a god-like figure, Mazzini was nonetheless denounced by many of his compatriots as a traitor. Contemporary historians tended to believe that he ceased to contribute anything productive or useful after 1849, but modern ones take a more favorable opinion of him.

Jacob Émile Albert Mayrisch (10 October 1862 – 5 March 1928) was a Luxembourgian industrialist and businessman. He served as president of Arbed. He was married to Aline de Saint-Hubert, who was a famous women's rights campaigner, socialite and philanthropist, and was President of the Luxembourg Red Cross.

On 30 September 1926, after long negotiations, the Entente Internationale de l’Acier (EIA) was founded in Luxembourg, in which Luxembourg and neighbouring countries set quotas for their steel production. Émile Mayrisch became the president of this cartel.In 1926, he was honoured by his alma mater, the RWTH in Aachen, and received an honorary doctorate. He died in 1928 in a car accident, on his was to Paris for a meeting of the EIA.

Hugo Grotius (10 April 1583 – 28 August 1645), also known as Huig de Groot or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. In 1609, Grotius wrote one of the most important international legal doctrines regarding the seas and oceans –Mare Liberum, a Latin title that translates to "the freedom of the seas". It is said to be "the first, and classic, exposition of the doctrine of the freedom of the seas" which has been the essence and backbone of the modern law of the sea. 

Thank you Dear Merja.