Manuel Durán y Bas facts for kids
Manuel Durán y Bas (born November 29, 1823, in Barcelona; died February 10, 1907, in Barcelona) was a very important Spanish lawyer and legal expert. He was also a politician who became the Spanish Minister of Justice in 1899.
Contents
Manuel Durán y Bas: His Life Story
Early Life and Education
Manuel Durán y Bas was born in Barcelona, Spain. He studied law at the University of Barcelona. In 1852, he earned his highest degree in law, called a doctorate. This meant he was an expert in legal matters.
A Career in Law and Education
In 1862, Durán y Bas became a professor at the University of Barcelona. He taught commercial law, which is about rules for businesses. Later, in 1896, he became the rector of the university. The rector is like the president of a university.
He was also a very famous lawyer. He worked for important families in Catalonia, helping them with legal issues. He also served on the boards of many schools and businesses.
Entering Politics
Manuel Durán y Bas also had a career in politics. In 1863, he was chosen to be a member of the Spanish Congress. This is like being a representative in a country's parliament. He represented the province of Barcelona.
He was re-elected several times, in 1865, 1879, and 1884. In 1886, he joined the Senate, which is another part of the Spanish government. He became a senator for life in 1891, meaning he would serve for the rest of his life.
Serving as Justice Minister
His most important political role was in 1899. From March 4 to October 25, he served as the Minister of Justice. This meant he was in charge of the country's legal system. He worked in the government led by Francisco Silvela.
Manuel Durán y Bas: Impact on Spanish Law
Legal Ideas and Beliefs
Durán y Bas had strong ideas about how laws should be made. He believed in something called the "historical school of thought." This idea, from a thinker named Savigny, said that laws should reflect the "national spirit." This means laws should grow from the traditions and local rules of a country. These local rules are often called customary law.
He disagreed with another popular idea at the time. This was the "philosophical school," which wanted to create new laws based on pure logic and universal ideas. They wanted to make all laws the same across the country.
Protecting Catalan Law
Even though he didn't fully agree with making all laws the same, Durán y Bas played a big part in creating the 1888 Código civil (Civil Code). This was a major set of laws for Spain.
He helped make sure that the special laws of Catalonia were still kept. He made a list of these Catalan laws that would still apply as exceptions. This helped protect the wealth and power of the important Catalan families he represented. His work in 1888, called Memoria, helped bring back interest in Catalan law.
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Durán y Bas para niños
