was born in Herisau Emil Sonderegger (born 1868 in Herisau – 1934), military officer, became involved in far right politics Johannes Baumann, (1874–1953), member of the Swiss Federal Council (1934–1940) Adolf Naef (1883 in Herisau – 1949), a Swiss zoologist and palaeontologist, worked on cephalopods Hermann Rorschach, (1884-1922), psychologist Robert Walser (1878–1956), German speaking Swiss writer Nikolaus Senn (1926–2014), former co-director of Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft Hans-Rudolf Merz, (born 1942), member of the Swiss Federal Council (2003–2010) Markus Zürcher (1946-2013), Swiss visual artist, representatives of conceptual art Ruth Erat (born 1951), Swiss teacher, writer, painter and politician Paul Giger (born 1952), violinist and composer Theodoros Orfanidis (born 1975 in Herisau), conductor, husband of Sonia Theodoridou, soprano Annette Gigon (born 1959 in Herisau), a Swiss architect Jörg Eugster (born 1960 in Herisau), a Swiss author and blogger Sport Fredy Lienhard, Sr. (born 1947 in Herisau), a Swiss racing driver. Jörg Eberle (born 1962), Swiss ice hockey player Mathias Rusterholz (born 1971), Swiss athlete, holds the Swiss 400 meter record Jonas Hiller, (born 1982), Swiss ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for EHC Biel Beat Forster (born 1983), Swiss ice hockey player, currently playing for EHC Biel Conor Morrison (born 1989 in Herisau), a professional ice hockey player Timo Meier, (born 1996), Swiss ice hockey player, currently playing for the San Jose Sharks References External links http://www.herisau.ch official website Cities in Switzerland Cantonal capitals of Switzerland Municipalities of Appenzell Ausserrhoden Cultural property of national significance in Appenzell Ausserrhoden