Modesto Cortázar y Leal de Ibarra facts for kids

Modesto Cortázar y Leal de Ibarra was an important Spanish politician. He was born on June 15, 1783, in Briviesca, a town in Burgos, Spain. He passed away on January 25, 1862, in Madrid. Cortázar is best known for serving a short time as the Prime Minister of Spain.

Early Political Life

Modesto Cortázar was a member of the Progressive Party. In politics, a "party" is a group of people who share similar ideas about how a country should be run. The Progressive Party was one of the main political groups in Spain during his time.

Becoming Prime Minister

In 1840, the government led by Valentín Ferraz y Barrau ended. On August 28, 1840, Modesto Cortázar was chosen by the Regent, María Cristina de Borbón, to form a new government. A "Regent" is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young or unable to rule.

His Short Term as Leader

Cortázar became the acting Prime Minister of Spain. This means he was temporarily in charge of the government. He also held the important job of Minister of Justice, which meant he was responsible for the country's laws and legal system. However, his time as Prime Minister was very short, lasting only two weeks. He was then replaced by Vicente Sancho y Cobertores.

Later Political Roles

After his time as Prime Minister, Cortázar continued to be active in Spanish politics.

During the Moderate Decade

From 1844 to 1854, Spain experienced a period known as the "Década Moderada" (Moderate Decade). During this time, Modesto Cortázar held other significant positions.

• In January 1847, he became the President of the Congress of Deputies. The Congress of Deputies is like the main parliament or law-making body in Spain.
• In September 1847, he served as the Foreign Minister in the government, or "cabinet," of Florencio García Goyena. A Foreign Minister is in charge of a country's relationships with other nations.

See also

In Spanish: Modesto Cortázar para niños