Swiss Uruguayans Explained

Group:	Swiss Uruguayans
Native Name:
Pop:	^[1] ~1.8% of the Uruguyan population (2014)
Popplace:	Throughout Uruguay, especially in settlements founded by Swiss immigrants.
Langs:	SpanishFrenchGermanItalianRomansh
Related:	Swiss Other ethnic groups of Uruguay: French Uruguayans, German Uruguayans, Brazilian Uruguayans, British Uruguayans, Irish Uruguayans, Italian Uruguayans, Russian Uruguayans, Polish Uruguayans, Bulgarian Uruguayans, Hungarian Uruguayans, Ukrainian Uruguayans, Lithuanian Uruguayans, Austrian Uruguayans, Croatian Uruguayans, Greek Uruguayans Other Swiss in other nations: Swiss Argentines, Swiss Brazilians, Swiss Chileans, Swiss Americans

Swiss Uruguayans are Uruguayan citizens of full or partial Swiss ancestry, who remain culturally connected to Switzerland, or Swiss-born people permanently residing in Uruguay. They are estimated to be around 60,000.^[2]

History

In 1860, the Basel bank of Siegrist und Fender purchased farm land in Uruguay. It was not long before the first Swiss citizens moved to Uruguay with the goal of working the land as farmers, where they founded the colony of Nueva Helvecia around 1862.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

As of 2008, there were 956 people with Swiss passports residing in Uruguay.^[7]

Notable Swiss Uruguayans

Past

• José Belloni (1882–1965), sculptor
• Roque Gastón Máspoli (1917–2004), football player and coach
• Juan José Morosoli (1899-1959), writer
• Bernardo Poncini (1814-1874), architect

Present

• Julián Schweizer (born 1998), surfer
• Matías Vitkieviez (born 1985), footballer
• Walter Zimmer (born 1945), physician and politician

See also

• Nueva Helvecia
• Switzerland–Uruguay relations

Bibliography

• Book: Caro, Marice Ettlin. La Colonia Suiza que casi no lo fue: Nueva Helvecia. 2016. Marice Caro . 978-0-692-78715-1. es.
• Book: Sommer-Geiser, Jacob. Lebens-Bilder aus dem Staate Uruguay in Süd-Amerika und seine Verhältnisse in agricoler, commerzieller und industrieller Beziehung für schweizerische Ansiedlungen. 1861. Basel.

External links

• Book: Pi Hugarte. Renzo. Vidart. Daniel. Renzo Pi Hugarte. Daniel Vidart. El legado de los inmigrantes. Nuestra Tierra. Montevideo. 1970.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Felipe Arocena . The contribution of immigrants to Uruguay . 6 March 2014 . multiculturalismoenuruguay.com.
2. Web site: Felipe Arocena . The contribution of immigrants to Uruguay . 6 March 2014 . multiculturalismoenuruguay.com.
3. News: Uruguay and Switzerland — cultural and economic Benefits from new Market opportunities . 14 May 2009 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111002103119/http://www.ejpd.admin.ch/ejpd/en/home/dokumentation/red/archiv/reden_christoph_blocher/2007/2007-04-17.html . 2 October 2011 .
4. Web site: Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Uruguay . 14 May 2009 . The independent Republic of Uruguay came into being in 1828 and became a popular destination for Swiss migrants. It was German-Swiss farmers who in 1862-63 founded the colony of Nueva Helvecia. They introduced cheese-making and other agricultural innovations. Immigrants from Ticino were successful as skilled builders, artists and also footballers. . .
5. News: Uruguay to Honor the Swiss . . 4 June 1944 .
6. News: ... a la que pusieron por nombre Nueva Helvecia. es. 28 October 2005. Swissinfo.
7. Web site: Key data for the Oriental Republic of Uruguay . 14 May 2009 . .