Leopoldo O'Donnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Duke of Tetuán
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| Prime Minister of Spain | |
| In office 14 July 1856 – 12 October 1856 |
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| Monarch | Isabella II |
| Preceded by | The Duke of la Victoria |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Valencia |
| In office 30 June 1858 – 2 March 1863 |
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| Monarch | Isabella II |
| Preceded by | Francisco Javier de Istúriz |
| Succeeded by | The Marquis of Miraflores |
| In office 16 September 1864 – 10 July 1866 |
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| Monarch | Isabella II |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Valencia |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Valencia |
| Minister of State 1858, 1860–1863 | |
| Minister for War 1854 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 January 1809 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Died | 5 November 1867 (aged 58) Biarritz, French Empire |
| Resting place | Convent of the Salesas Reales |
| Political party | Unión Liberal |
| Spouse | Manuela Barges |
| Relations | Margarita Diez-Colunje y Pombo (cousin) |
Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris, 1st Duke of Tetuán (born January 12, 1809 – died November 5, 1867) was an important Spanish general. He also served as the Prime Minister of Spain several times. He was known as a Grandee, which is a high rank of Spanish nobility.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Leopoldo O'Donnell was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, located in the Canary Islands. His father was Carlos O'Donnell and his mother was Josefa Jorris y Casaviella. His family had roots in Ireland, tracing back many generations to an ancient Irish leader named Calvagh O'Donnell.
Political and Military Career
Leopoldo O'Donnell was a strong supporter of the liberal group known as the Christinos. He also supported the rule of Queen Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies in the 1830s. When General Baldomero Espartero took power in 1840, O'Donnell had to leave Spain. He even tried to overthrow Espartero in 1841.
Serving in Cuba
O'Donnell soon returned to power. In October 1843, he was sent to Cuba as its Captain General. During his time there, in 1844, he was involved in a harsh crackdown. This event was known as the "repression of La Escalera." Thousands of enslaved people and free people of color in Cuba faced severe treatment and punishment.
Becoming Prime Minister
In 1854, O'Donnell led a military uprising against the government. He then became the Prime Minister for a short time. He also served as the War Minister in Espartero's government.
Spain faced challenges in 1854, including a famine in Galicia. This was partly due to the Crimean War, which made grain prices go up. Riots also broke out across Spain. General O'Donnell marched his troops into Madrid. On July 14–15, 1856, Espartero gave up power to O'Donnell. Queen Isabella II then asked O'Donnell to form a new government. He became the 44th Prime Minister of Spain.
Forming the Liberal Union Party
For his new government, O'Donnell created the Unión Liberal Party. This party aimed to bring together different political groups. These included Progressive, Moderate, and Carlist factions. O'Donnell wanted to create balanced policies for Spain. He supported a laissez-faire approach, meaning less government involvement in the economy. He also took control of some church lands. However, he was dismissed from power after only a few months, on October 12.
Later Governments and Foreign Policy
In his later terms as Prime Minister, O'Donnell was more cautious. His governments worked hard to attract money from other countries. This money was used to improve Spain's railroad system. However, Spain did not see much economic growth overall. Industry only grew significantly in areas like the Basque Country and Catalonia. These regions already had strong industrial centers.
O'Donnell also supported a new, more active foreign policy. He wanted Spain to expand its territory in Africa. This was especially true after France had success in Algeria.
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He served as both Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister at the same time during his first administration. He was the 136th Minister of Foreign Affairs and the 48th Prime Minister from June 30 to July 2, 1858. He was also the 138th Minister of Foreign Affairs from October 21, 1860, to January 18, 1863. He continued as Prime Minister until February 26, 1863. His second term as the 53rd Prime Minister began on October 21, 1860.
Military Achievements
In 1860, O'Donnell briefly left his government role. He led the Spanish army in the Spanish-Moroccan War. He commanded the troops at the Battle of Tétouan, where they captured the city of Tétouan. For his success in this campaign, he was given the title Duke of Tetuán.
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In 1866, he put down a revolt led by General Juan Prim. He was later removed from his position by the queen on July 11, 1866. He was also honored as the 103rd Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword.
Succession
Leopoldo O'Donnell's titles were passed on to his nephew. This was Carlos O'Donnell y Álvarez de Abreu (1834 – 1903). He became the 2nd Duke of Tetuán, 2nd Count of Lucena, and 9th Marquess of Altamira.
See also
In Spanish: Leopoldo O'Donnell para niños
