Luis Gabriel Portillo facts for kids

Luis Gabriel Portillo Pérez was a Spanish professor, writer, and politician who lived in exile in the United Kingdom. He was known for his strong support of left-wing ideas.

Early Life and Education

Luis Gabriel Portillo was born in Gimialcón, a small town in Ávila, Spain. His father, Justino Portillo, was a doctor. In 1909, his family moved to Madrigal de las Altas Torres, another town in Ávila.

He studied at universities in Salamanca and Madrid. In 1934, he became a professor of civil law (rules about people's rights and duties) at the University of Salamanca. There, he became good friends with Miguel de Unamuno, who was the head of the university. Later, Luis Portillo worked as a Deputy Secretary of Justice during the time of the Second Spanish Republic. This meant he helped manage the country's legal system.

Spanish Civil War and Life in Exile

During the Spanish Civil War, Luis Portillo supported the Republicans. However, he did not fight in the war because he had six brothers who were on the other side, supporting Francisco Franco. He worried about fighting against them.

When the war ended, he had to leave Spain and went to England. A member of the Labour Party in the UK helped him. In England, he worked at a camp for Spanish children who had been sent away from the war. There, he met his future wife, Cora Blyth.

When he first arrived in England, he had no money and his Spanish qualifications were not recognized. He couldn't speak English well at first. He had to take a job sweeping roads to earn money. Later, he became a translator for the government and worked in news as a translator and editor. He also wrote and published poetry.

In 1972, Luis Portillo became the head of the London Diplomatic Office for the Spanish Republican government in exile. This was a group of Spanish leaders who continued to represent the old Spanish Republic from outside Spain. On June 23, 1977, almost two years after Franco's death, Luis Portillo was officially given back his position as a university professor. This was called "political rehabilitation."

In 1977, he helped start a new Spanish political party called Republican Left. This party had the same name as an older party that had been led by Manuel Azaña.

Family Life

Luis Portillo married Cora Waldegrave Blyth. Cora's father, John Waldegrave Blyth, was a rich linen maker and art collector from Scotland. Cora had studied Spanish and French at St Hilda's College, Oxford. She worked as a censor (someone who checks mail) and for the BBC's Latin American service.

Luis and Cora had five sons. One of their sons is Michael Portillo, who became a well-known British journalist, broadcaster, and politician for the Conservative Party. He even served as a Cabinet Minister in the British government.

Luis Portillo died in 1993. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

See also

In Spanish: Luis Gabriel Portillo para niños