Manoilescu, Mihail (1891–?1950)

Abstract

Mihail Manoïlescu was born in Tecuci (Romania) in 1891, the son of two elementary school teachers. His continuous school successes bespoke of the exceptional qualities on which he was to rely for political ambitions as well as for scholarly endeavours. As a top student at the Bucharest Polytechnical School, from which he obtained the engineer diploma in 1915, Manoïlescu became acquainted with the Crown Prince (the future Carol II) while the latter was attending the same class. It was a political asset subsequently enhanced when in 1930 Manoïlescu was instrumental in bringing Carol back from self-imposed exile. Manoïlescu started his reputation as a keen engineer and an astute operator by designing a better cannon and by organizing a successful Industrial Exhibition (1921). He began his catapulting political career by joining the People’s Party and thereby becoming Under-Secretary of Finance (1926/27). Thereafter, he switched to the Peasant Party and, after Carol’s return, he became in succession Minister of Communications, of Industry and Commerce, and Governor of the National Bank. In 1932, he occupied the newly established chair of political economy at the Polytechnic School.