Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo facts for kids
Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo (born February 4, 1817, in Seville – died July 3, 1898, in Madrid) was an important Spanish lawyer, journalist, and politician. He served as the Minister of Justice for King Alfonso XII. Before that, he was the 5th Solicitor General of Spain, which means he was a top legal advisor to the government.
Contents
His Life and Career
Francisco de Cárdenas studied law in his hometown of Seville. In 1839, he became a professor at the University of Seville, teaching subjects like philosophy and grammar.
Entering Politics
He began his political career in 1853 when he was chosen as a Deputy (like a representative) for the Province of Zaragoza. Later, in 1864, he became a Senator for life. This meant he would serve in the Senate for the rest of his life.
A Break and Return
After a big political change in Spain called the Revolution of 1868, he stepped away from politics for a while. He returned to public life after the monarchy was brought back to Spain (this was called the Bourbon Restoration). He was again chosen as a Senator, this time for the Province of Córdoba, and his position as a Senator for life was confirmed in 1877.
Serving as Minister of Justice
From 1874 to 1875, Francisco de Cárdenas served as the Minister of Justice. During this time, he worked under the government of Antonio Cánovas. As Minister, he changed many laws that had been put in place during an earlier period of Spanish history.
Other Important Roles
Besides his political work, Francisco de Cárdenas also started several conservative newspapers between 1839 and 1847. He also served as Spain's Ambassador to France and to the Holy See (the government of the Catholic Church). He was a member of two important Spanish academies: the Real Academia de la Historia (Royal Academy of History) and the Real Academia de Ciencias Morales y Políticas (Royal Academy of Moral and Political Sciences). He even became the President of the latter academy.
His Writings
Francisco de Cárdenas wrote several books on legal and historical topics. Some of his notable works include:
- Ensayo sobre la historia de la propíedad territorial en España (Essay on the History of Land Ownership in Spain), published in 1873.
- Estudios jurídicos (Legal Studies), published in 1884.
- De los vicios y defectos más notables de la legislación civil de España... (On the Most Notable Vices and Defects of Spain's Civil Legislation...), published in 1852.
- De la influencia del teatro en las costumbres y la protección que puede dispensarle el Estado... (On the Influence of Theater on Customs and the Protection the State Can Provide...), published in 1880.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo para niños
