Leopoldo de Gregorio, 1st Marquess of Esquilache facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Marquess of Esquilache
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Giuseppe Bonito: Portrait of Leopoldo de Gregorio, marchese di Squillace, Madrid, Museo del Prado.
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| Minister of the Treasury | |
| In office 25 December 1759 – 1 April 1766 |
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| Monarch | Charles III |
| Preceded by | Juan Francisco de Gaona y Portocarrero |
| Succeeded by | Miguel de Múzquiz y Goyeneche |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 December 1699 Messina, Kingdom of Sicily |
| Died | 15 September 1785 (aged 85) Venice, Republic of Venice |
Leopoldo de Gregorio, 1st Marquess of Esquilache (born December 23, 1699, in Messina – died September 15, 1785, in Venice) was an important Spanish politician. He was born in Sicily, which was then a kingdom. In Spain, he was known as Marqués de Esquilache. He served as the Minister of Finance for Spain from 1759 to 1766.
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Who Was Leopoldo de Gregorio?
Leopoldo de Gregorio was born in Messina, a city in Sicily. He became one of the most important politicians in Spain during a time called the Enlightenment. This was a period when people wanted new ideas and changes in how governments worked. He started working for King Charles III when the king arrived in Spain.
How He Rose to Power
Leopoldo de Gregorio was very good at supplying the army in Naples. This skill impressed King Charles III. Because of his abilities, the king gave him a special title: "Marquis of Squillace" in 1755.
King Charles III had learned about new ways to govern from his teacher in Sicily, Bernardo Tanucci. Even though Tanucci stayed in Sicily, King Charles brought many Italian reformers with him to Spain. These reformers believed that Spain's government could be made more modern and efficient. Leopoldo de Gregorio was one of these key people. He was the main person behind the first big changes King Charles made in Spain.
The Esquilache Riots
Leopoldo de Gregorio tried to modernize Spain in many ways. One of his ideas was to change the clothes that ordinary Spaniards wore. This led to big protests known as the Esquilache Riots. Because of these riots, King Charles III had to remove Esquilache from his position.
The king then sent Esquilache to be an ambassador in Venice. Both King Charles and Esquilache were sad about this move. Esquilache felt that his efforts in Spain deserved a statue. He often said that he had cleaned and paved the city streets and built wide boulevards. Despite all his work, he was still dismissed.
Later Life
Leopoldo de Gregorio spent the rest of his life in Venice. He died there on September 15, 1785.
See also
In Spanish: Marqués de Esquilache para niños
