Pedro Peralta y Barnuevo facts for kids
Pedro Peralta y Barnuevo (born November 26, 1663, in Lima – died April 30, 1743) was a very smart person from Peru. He lived during a time called the Enlightenment. He was good at many things, like math, studying the stars, history, writing, and poetry. People called him a polymath, which means someone who knows a lot about many different subjects. He was also the head, or rector, of the University of San Marcos in Lima.
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Early Life and Education
Pedro's parents were Francisco Peralta Barnuevo from Spain and Magdalena E. Rocha Benavides from Lima. He had a brother named José de Peralta Barnuevo, who became a Bishop in Buenos Aires.
Pedro went to the University of San Marcos. There, he studied Roman and church law. He earned his doctor's degree in law between 1680 and 1686. After that, he became a lawyer in 1686.
A Master of Many Languages
Pedro was very good at languages. He could speak Latin, Greek, French, Portuguese, Italian, English, and even Quechua. His personal library showed how curious he was about everything. It had books on grammar, how to build forts, astronomy (studying space), and even how to work with metals.
When his father passed away, Pedro took over his job. He became the royal accountant for the Court of Audit. He also received money from his wife's land.
Leading the University
Pedro became the rector (head) of the University of San Marcos in 1715 and 1716. This was a challenging time for the university.
Working with Scientists
He also became a member of the Académie des sciences in Paris, France. This happened because he decided to help with a very important science trip. This trip was a joint effort between France and Spain.
The leader of this trip, which started in 1735, was a French scientist named Charles Marie de la Condamine. The main goal was to measure a part of the Earth's surface very carefully. This helped scientists understand the size and shape of the Earth better. They also studied the nature of the area they were in. Two Spanish scientists, Antonio de Ulloa and Jorge Juan, were also important members of this expedition.
Works
Pedro Peralta y Barnuevo wrote many books and poems. Here are some of his famous works:
- Oración que dixo el rector de esta Real Universidad de San Marcos a su ilustre claustro, el 30 de junio de 1716. Lima, 1716.
- Jubileos de Lima y fiestas reales. Lima, 1723.
- Historia de España Vindicada. Lima, 1730.
- Lima fundada o Conquista del Peru: poema heroico. Lima, 1732.
- Passion y triumpho de Christo: dividida en diez oraciones. Lima, 1738.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Peralta y Barnuevo para niños
