Pedro Cortina Mauri facts for kids
Pedro Cortina y Mauri (born March 18, 1908, in La Pobla de Segur – died February 14, 1993, in Madrid) was an important Spanish politician and diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. Pedro Cortina served as the last Minister of Foreign Affairs under General Francisco Franco. He then continued in this role when Spain became a democracy in 1975, serving until 1980. Before this, he was Spain's Ambassador to France. He was also the father of well-known businessmen Alfonso and Alberto Cortina.
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Pedro Cortina y Mauri: A Spanish Diplomat
Early Life and Career
Pedro Cortina Mauri studied law at the University of The Hague and the University of Madrid. After finishing his studies, he joined the Spanish government. He helped establish new relationships between Spain and France. He served as Spain's Ambassador in Paris until 1970.
Leading Spain's Foreign Affairs
In 1970, Pedro Cortina became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This was a very important job, as he was in charge of how Spain interacted with other countries. He held this position during a big change in Spain. He was the last minister under General Franco's rule. Then, when Spain became a democracy in 1975, he continued in the same role until 1980.
During his time as minister, he handled important issues. One key task was the decolonization of Mauritania by Spain. This means Spain helped Mauritania become an independent country. He also worked on the decolonization of Equatorial Guinea.
Building a Beer Company
In 1957, Pedro Cortina helped create the Spanish beer company San Miguel. The company was called Fábricas de Cerveza y Malta, SA. This was a special agreement with the original Filipino San Miguel Beer brand. He was the chairman and CEO of the company when he passed away. Later, his sons Alfonso and Alberto took over San Miguel. They eventually sold the company, and it became part of the Mahou-San Miguel Group in 2000.
Awards and Honors
Pedro Cortina y Mauri received several important awards for his work. These recognitions show his dedication and service to Spain. Some of his notable awards included:
- Permanent Member of the Cabinet of Spain
- Gran Cruz of King Carlos III (a high honor from the King)
- Gran Cruz of Queen Isabel La Catolica (another high honor from the Queen)
- Gold Medal of the Spanish State
- Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (a prestigious French award)
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Cortina para niños
