He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on December 14, 1899, and resigned on July 9, 1912, only four days before his death. He was affiliated with the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland. While in office he held the following departments:

• Department of Home Affairs (1900 -1903)
• Department of Finance (1904)
• Political Department (1905)
• Department of Home Affairs (1906 - 1910)
• Political Department (1911)
• Department of Home Affairs (1912)