Lascar Catargiu

Lascăr Catargiu was a Romanian statesman and four times prime minister, who played a leading role in national affairs through the country's early years of independence. He served on the Moldavian divan ad hoc and was the Conservative candidate for the throne of Moldavia. After the unification of the principalities, he joined the secret committee that successfully planned the overthrow of the first prince of united Romania, Alexandru Cuza, and chose his replacement, Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Catargiu's administrations were marked by modest land and financial reforms and a generally creditable domestic record.