Swiss Politics The US and Geneva – key events and figures Previous Next The Geneva Bible, which was conceived and printed in Geneva by Protestant scholars, was the main Bible used by early settlers in America. (wikimedia commons) wikimedia commons Portrait of Raphael Semmes, commander of the Confederate ship Alabama, and an artwork "swords to ploughshares" in the Alabama Room in Geneva’s Town Hall. An international arbitration tribunal met in this room and signed an agreement in 1872 to end a conflict between the US and Britain. The first Geneva Convention was also signed in this room. (Zineke/wikimedia commons) Zineke/wikimedia commons Albert Gallatin (1761-1849), who was born in Geneva and later immigrated to the US, would have a huge impact on US political life. The Swiss-American became a US Senator, a US ambassador and the longest serving US Secretary to the Treasury. (Library of Congress) Library of Congress The Palais Wilson, named after the former US president Woodrow Wilson, is located on the shores of Lake Geneva. The building served as the headquarters of the League of Nations from 1920-1936 and is now the headquarters of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (Keystone/Laurent Gillieron) Keystone US President Woodrow Wilson insisted that Geneva should host the headquarters of the League of Nations (forerunner of the United Nations) rather than Brussels. (Keystone) Keystone A view of the Armillary Sphere, donated by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, and United Nations European headquarters in Geneva. The four-metre diameter sculpture is today a symbol of International Geneva. (AFP/Fabrice Coffini) AFP A meeting 1926 of the League of Nations Assembly in Geneva. (Keystone) Keystone In 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pressed a ‘reset’ button in Geneva to symbolise improving ties.(Keystone) Keystone Microsoft founder Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has become a major player in the health sector in Geneva. (Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi) Keystone Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 Picture 4 Picture 5 Picture 6 Picture 7 Picture 8 Picture 9 This content was published on March 1, 2017 - 11:00 The US has a closely interwoven history with the western Swiss city and one that dates back to the Pilgrims. You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us! If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.