Niceto de Zamacois facts for kids

Juan Niceto de Zamacois y Urrutia (born March 20, 1820, in Bilbao, Spain – died September 29, 1885, in Mexico City, Mexico) was a Spanish writer. He worked as a journalist, wrote plays, poems, and novels, and was also a historian. He spent most of his life living in Mexico.

Juan Niceto was part of a very artistic family. He was the half-brother of famous people like the painter Eduardo Zamacois y Zabala, the singer Elisa Zamacois, and the actor Ricardo Zamacois. He was also the uncle of writers Miguel Zamacoïs and Eduardo Zamacois, and the music composer Joaquín Zamacois.

Life Story of Juan Niceto

Juan Niceto de Zamacois y Urrutia was born in Bilbao, Spain. His father, Miguel Antonio de Zamacois y Berreteaga, was important in education. He founded and directed the Santiago de Vizcaya School of Humanities. Juan Niceto's family had roots in the Basque region and even further back in Hasparren, France.

In 1840, when he was 20 years old, Juan Niceto moved to Mexico. Three years later, in 1843, he married María Francisca Rubio y Mateos, who was Mexican. He created almost all of his literary works while living in Mexico.

In 1857, because of political problems in Mexico, he went back to Spain. However, he returned to Mexico in 1860 and stayed there until the time of the First Spanish Republic in Spain. When he came back to Mexico, he chose not to become a Mexican citizen. This meant he could not run for a position as a federal representative in the government.

Juan Niceto de Zamacois y Urrutia passed away in Mexico City on September 29, 1885, at the age of 65.

What Juan Niceto Wrote

Juan Niceto de Zamacois y Urrutia wrote many different kinds of works, from plays to history books.

Plays for the Stage

• The Yankees in Monterrey (1846): A funny play in one act, written in verse. It was first performed in July 1846.
• The Undersigned (1859): A short opera (operetta) in one act.
• Inheriting a Barber (1859): A one-act comedy play. It was performed in Madrid in June 1859.
• The Two Mothers (1860): A comedy in one act.
• The Mayor (1861): A short opera with music by J. E. Domec.
• The Musician and Poet (1861): Another one-act short opera with music by F. Caballero.

Collections of Poems

• Poetic Entertainment (1847)
• The Echoes of My Lyre (1849)
• The Mysteries of Mexico (1850): A long poem with different rhyming styles.
• Health of the Soul (1851): A prayer book written in verse.
• History of the Carlist War in the Basque Provinces and Navarre: A long, epic poem.

Exciting Novels

• The California Gold Digger (1855)
• A Dethroned Angel from Heaven (1855): A religious story.
• Captain Rossi (1860)
• Syrup (1861)
• Zuisvivir Feeling (1864)
• The Beggar of San Angelo (1865)
• Inheriting a Barber (1879): This was also a play he wrote.

Essays and Other Writings

• Mexicans Themselves Painted (1855)
• Mexico and Its Surroundings (1855-1856)
• Testament "The Pythagorean Gallo" (1855): A funny and critical book.
• Almanac Comic, Critical, Satirical and Burlesque (1856): A humorous almanac for everyone.

Books He Translated

• The Last Days of Pompeii (1871): He translated this famous book by Edward Bulwer Lytton into Spanish.

History Books

• History of Mexico (1876-1882): A multi-volume work about the history of Mexico.

See also

In Spanish: Niceto de Zamacois para niños