![Portrait of Alois Wyrsch, who made history as Switzerland’s first non-white politician.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/wyrsch-titel-300x225.jpg)
From Borneo to Bern
In 1860, Alois Wyrsch from Stans was the first non-white member of parliament. A Nidwalden citizen “of colour”? Wyrsch’s mother came from Borneo, where his father had served as a mercenary soldier.
![Father Louis Wyrsch, here with his son, returned to Switzerland from Asia in 1832. The picture was taken around 1850.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/vater-und-sohn-229x300.jpg)
![Louis Wyrsch Junior, painted by Karl Georg Kaiser, 1888.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/louis-wyrsch-218x300.jpg)
![Photograph of Constantia Wyrsch.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/schwester-254x300.jpg)
Mother tongue banned
![The Au mill in Buochs, photographed in 1922.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/teigwarenfabrik-300x220.jpg)
![In the Sonderbund War of 1847, Alois Wyrsch proved himself under his father’s command. Print, late 19th century.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/sonderbundskrieg-300x195.jpg)
Supporter of the revised Federal Constitution
![Front page of the Nidwaldner Volksblatt of 10 March 1888.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/volksblatt-300x206.jpg)