Pedro Pidal, 1st Marquess of Villaviciosa de Asturias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Marquess of Villaviciosa de Asturias
MP
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Pictured in 1918
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Pedro José Pidal y Bernaldo de Quirós
2 November 1870 Somió, Spain |
| Died | 17 November 1941 (aged 71) Gijón, Spain |
| Spouse |
Jacoba Guilhou y Georgeault
(m. 1892) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents |
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| Medal record | ||
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Representing  Spain |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 1900 Paris | Individual competition |
Pedro José Pidal y Bernaldo de Quirós (born November 2, 1870 – died November 17, 1941) was an important Spanish person. He was a politician, a brave mountain climber, a writer, and a famous hunter. He even won an Olympic medal!
Pedro Pidal was a true pioneer in protecting nature. He helped create the Picos de Europa National Park in 1918. This was a big step for conservationism in Spain. He was also the first person to reach the top of Naranjo de Bulnes, a very tall mountain, in 1904.
At the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, Pedro Pidal won a silver medal. He competed in pigeon shooting. He was also a member of parliament for different areas in Spain. Later, he became a senator for life in 1914.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Pedro Pidal was born in a place called Somió, Spain. He was the first of 12 children in his family. His father, Alejandro Pidal, was a very important person. He was the President of the Spanish Parliament and a government minister. He also directed the Royal Spanish Academy, which is a big group that studies the Spanish language. Pedro's mother was Ignacia Bernaldo de Quirós. Her father was the 7th Marquess of Campo Sagrado.
Hunting Adventures
Pedro Pidal was a very skilled hunter, especially in the mountains. He was an expert on Cantabrian brown bears. He hunted five of these bears during his life. He also enjoyed tracking mountain goats, known as rebecos and sarrios.
He is one of only four people who have hunted all the main big-game animals in Spain. These animals include the Iberian lynx and the bear. The other three famous hunters were the 11th Marquess of Valdueza, Carlos Rein, and Infanta Alicia of Spain.
Family Life
On October 10, 1892, Pedro Pidal married Jacqueline Guilhou. She was the daughter of a well-known French businessman, Jean Antoine Numa Guilhou. Their wedding took place at a chapel in the Mieres steel factory. Pedro and Jacqueline had five children together:
- María Pidal y Guilhou
- Santiago Pidal y Guilhou, who became the 2nd Marquess of Villaviciosa de Asturias (1894-1962)
- Pedro Pidal y Guilhou
- Alejandro Pidal y Guilhou
- Enrique Pidal y Guilhou
Pedro Pidal passed away in Gijón, Spain, on November 17, 1941.
Titles and Achievements
Pedro Pidal held the title of the 1st Marquess of Villaviciosa de Asturias. This was a special noble title given to him.
Written Works
Pedro Pidal also wrote books about his experiences and knowledge. Here are some of his selected works:
- La Caza del Oso en Asturias (The Bear Hunt in Asturias), published in 1900.
- Picos de Europa: Contribución al Estudio de las Montañas Españolas (Picos de Europa: A Contribution to the Study of Spanish Mountains), published in 1918.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Pidal para niños
- List of big-game hunters
