Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco facts for kids
Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco (born August 28, 1803 – died September 20, 1857) was an important Spanish lawyer and politician. He had to leave Spain for a while but came back to help lead the country after a time of big changes, including the Peninsular War and the return of the House of Bourbon royal family.
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Biography: Early Life and Education
Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco was born in Valladolid, Spain, on August 28, 1803. His father, Manuel Silvela y García de Aragón, was a well-known writer and judge. Francisco's father called him his "right arm," showing how much he relied on him.
During a time when France occupied Spain, Francisco's father took a job in the government. Even though he saved many Spanish lives, some people called him "Frenchified," which meant they thought he was helping the French. Because of this, his family had to move to France to be safe.
Francisco Agustín grew up in France and was very smart and hardworking. In 1825, he earned a degree in Arts from the Royal Academy of Bordeaux. Later, in 1833, he got a Law degree from the University of Paris. He was also part of many important groups and even taught history and Greek language. He received an award for his skills in Math and Fine Arts.
On June 30, 1827, he married Luisa María Antonieta Sotés Le Vielleuze in Bordeaux. Her father was a colonel from Belgium.
After his father passed away, Francisco Agustín and his family moved back to Spain. There, he took on many important roles in the government. In 1843, he became a special assistant to the Queen, Isabella II of Spain, when she was declared old enough to rule.
Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco died in Madrid on September 20, 1857. He was buried in a cemetery there.
Politics: A Career in Government
While living in France, Francisco Agustín became friends with many Spanish people who were also living in exile. One important friend was Francisco Javier de Burgos, who had supported Joseph Bonaparte, the French king of Spain. Francisco Agustín and Burgos's children even went to the same school.
When King Ferdinand VII of Spain died in 1833, Javier de Burgos became an important government official. He helped Francisco Agustín and his father get back into public life.
In December 1833, Francisco Agustín began his government career. He worked as a secretary for public works in different areas like Pontevedra and Avila. He later joined the Civil Government in Castellón de la Plana. When he left that job, he gave his house and furniture to the community to be used as a home for children who needed care. A year later, he became a political leader in Valencia and La Coruña.
Francisco Agustín continued to move up in government. He worked in Lleida and then joined the Ministry of the Interior, which is a major part of the government.
In December 1838, during a time of political unrest, he briefly served as the Minister of the Interior. Even after a big change in government in 1840, he was allowed to continue many of the projects he had started.
Between 1837 and 1847, he was elected several times as a representative (a deputy) for Avila in the lower house of parliament. He even became the Vice President of the Congress of Deputies, which is a very important leadership role.
In 1847, he was appointed to the upper house of parliament as a Senator for Life, meaning he would hold that position for the rest of his life.
Legal Career: A Judge and Lawyer
Francisco Agustín became a lawyer in Spain in 1835 and joined the Bar Association of Madrid three years later.
He quickly rose through the legal ranks. In 1839, he became a Judge in A Coruña, and in 1841, a Judge in Valladolid. By 1843, he was appointed a Supreme Court Judge, which is one of the highest legal positions in Spain. In 1853, he became the Chairman of the Board of the Indies, a government body that dealt with Spain's overseas territories.
In 1850, he was also named Chairman of the Board of Governors for judges in the First Instance courts.
Family and Legacy
Francisco Agustín Silvela and his wife, Maria Antoinette, had four children: Manuel, Victoria, Luis, and Francisco. All three of their sons went on to achieve important positions in the Spanish government and administration, continuing their family's legacy of public service.
Publications
Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco also wrote several important works:
- "A question of law" (published in Paris, 1829)
- "Considerations on the need to retain and apply the death penalty in some cases" (Madrid, 1835)
- "Draft Electoral Law" (Lleida, 1836)
- "Proposition of law relating to the jurisdiction, powers, organization procedures for the Senate and Court" (Madrid, 1847)
- "Collection of projects, reports, studies of organic (enabling) laws and administrative practice" (Madrid, 1839)
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco para niños
