Paul Ludwig Falk (10 August 1827 - 1900), German politician, was born at Matschkau, Silesia. in 1847 he entered the Prussian state service, and in 1853 became public prosecutor at Lyck. In 1858 he was elected a deputy, joining the Old Liberal party. In 1868 he became a privy-councillor in the ministry of justice. In 1872 he was made minister of education, and in connection with Bismarcks policy of the Kulturkampf he was responsible for the famous May Laws against the Catholics. In 1879 his position became untenable, owing to the death of Pope Pius IX and the change of German policy with regard to the Vatican, and he resigned his office, but retained his seat in the Reichstag till 1882. He was then made president of the supreme court of justice at Hamm, where he died in 1900.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.