Antonio Puigblanch
Encyclopedia
Antoni Puig i Blanch (Mataró
, Spain
1775 - Somers Town, London
1840) was a Catalan
Spanish philologist and politician. He was living in London during 1815-1820 and 1823-1840. There he published The Inquisition unmasked (1816), translation of the book that had caused his exile from Spain.
(Barcelona
, Spain
) on February 3, 1775; son of Antoni Puig Bunyol and Cecília Blanch. Being a child he studied in the School of Santa Ana of the Escolapios (Mataró
). Later, he was in the carthusian monastery of Montalegre, but for a short time. In 1799 he travelled to Madrid
to continue his studies: Philosophy in the College of Santo Tomás de Aquino and ecclesiastic discipline in the Reales Estudios de San Isidro.
In 1807 he won the post of professor of Hebrew in the University of Alcalá de Henares
. At this time he publishes Elementos de lengua hebrea (Elements of Hebrew language), where he gathers Francesc Orchell's theories.
During the Spanish War of Independence
against the French invasion (1808–1814) the representatives of the Spanish Government escaped to Seville
and then to Cádiz
. At this time Puigblanch stands out among the liberals, who take advantage of the exceptional circumstances to make political reforms. He defends strongly the abolition of the Inquisition
, and he shows his arguments publishing La Inquisición sin máscara (Cádiz
, 1811–1813). For this reason, after the return of the king Fernando VII, Puigblanch has to leave Spain
in 1815. He establishes in London
. There he publishes the English (revised) edition of his polemic book: The Inquisition Unmasked (1816). He begins to write a poem in Catalan
about the fight for the freedom, personified in the Castilian War of the Communities
(1520–1522), entitled Las Comunitats de Castella. By this Catalan
poem, Puigblanch is recognized as the predecessor of the cultural movement called Renaixença
.
In 1820-1823 Puigblanch was again in Spain
, thanks to the political circumstances (Trienio Liberal). He was member of the Spanish Parliament for Catalonia
.
In 1823 he returned to London
for good, where he was employed at a press and at a pastry shop. In addition, he gave lessons of Spanish
and French
.
In 1828 and 1834 he published Opúsculos gramático-satíricos, in which among many other themes, he defends the possibility of constructing a federal Spanish State.
He translated to Spanish the Lectures on the Philosophy of the Human Mind by Thomas Brown
, entitled Filosofía del espíritu humano en cien lecciones (1828) and a selection of Sermons by Robert Hall (1764–1831) entitled Sermones entresacados de los que escribió en idioma inglés el Rdo. Roberto Hall (1832).
He left unfinished and unpublished the translation of the Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane
, by Alain-René Lesage
.
Antoni Puigblanch died on September 25, 1840, at 51 Johnson Street (now Cranleigh Street), Somers Town, London
.
Mataró
Mataró is the capital and largest city of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Community, Spain. It is located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, to the north-east of Barcelona. , it...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
1775 - Somers Town, London
Somers Town, London
Somers Town, was named for Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers. The area in St Pancras, London, was originally granted by William III to John Somers, Lord Chancellor and Baron Somers of Evesham. It was to be strongly influenced by the three mainline north London railway termini: Euston , St...
1840) was a Catalan
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
Spanish philologist and politician. He was living in London during 1815-1820 and 1823-1840. There he published The Inquisition unmasked (1816), translation of the book that had caused his exile from Spain.
Biography
Puigblanch was born in MataróMataró
Mataró is the capital and largest city of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Community, Spain. It is located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, to the north-east of Barcelona. , it...
(Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) on February 3, 1775; son of Antoni Puig Bunyol and Cecília Blanch. Being a child he studied in the School of Santa Ana of the Escolapios (Mataró
Mataró
Mataró is the capital and largest city of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Community, Spain. It is located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, to the north-east of Barcelona. , it...
). Later, he was in the carthusian monastery of Montalegre, but for a short time. In 1799 he travelled to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
to continue his studies: Philosophy in the College of Santo Tomás de Aquino and ecclesiastic discipline in the Reales Estudios de San Isidro.
In 1807 he won the post of professor of Hebrew in the University of Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares , meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city, whose historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, and one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain...
. At this time he publishes Elementos de lengua hebrea (Elements of Hebrew language), where he gathers Francesc Orchell's theories.
During the Spanish War of Independence
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
against the French invasion (1808–1814) the representatives of the Spanish Government escaped to Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
and then to Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. At this time Puigblanch stands out among the liberals, who take advantage of the exceptional circumstances to make political reforms. He defends strongly the abolition of the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
, and he shows his arguments publishing La Inquisición sin máscara (Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, 1811–1813). For this reason, after the return of the king Fernando VII, Puigblanch has to leave Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1815. He establishes in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There he publishes the English (revised) edition of his polemic book: The Inquisition Unmasked (1816). He begins to write a poem in Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
about the fight for the freedom, personified in the Castilian War of the Communities
Castilian War of the Communities
The Revolt of the Comuneros was an uprising by citizens of Castile against the rule of Charles V and his administration between 1520 and 1521. At its height, the rebels controlled the heart of Castile, ruling the cities of Valladolid, Tordesillas, and Toledo.The revolt occurred in the wake of...
(1520–1522), entitled Las Comunitats de Castella. By this Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
poem, Puigblanch is recognized as the predecessor of the cultural movement called Renaixença
Renaixença
The Renaixença was an early 19th century late romantic revivalist movement in Catalan language and culture, akin to the Galician Rexurdimento or the Occitan Félibrige movements. The first stimuli of the movement date of the 1830s and 1840s, but the Renaixença stretches up into the 1880s, until it...
.
In 1820-1823 Puigblanch was again in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, thanks to the political circumstances (Trienio Liberal). He was member of the Spanish Parliament for Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
.
In 1823 he returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for good, where he was employed at a press and at a pastry shop. In addition, he gave lessons of Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
In 1828 and 1834 he published Opúsculos gramático-satíricos, in which among many other themes, he defends the possibility of constructing a federal Spanish State.
He translated to Spanish the Lectures on the Philosophy of the Human Mind by Thomas Brown
Thomas Brown (philosopher)
Thomas Brown FRSE was a Scottish metaphysician.He was born at Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbright, where his father Rev. Samuel Brown was parish clergyman. He was a wide reader and an eager student...
, entitled Filosofía del espíritu humano en cien lecciones (1828) and a selection of Sermons by Robert Hall (1764–1831) entitled Sermones entresacados de los que escribió en idioma inglés el Rdo. Roberto Hall (1832).
He left unfinished and unpublished the translation of the Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane
Gil Blas
Gil Blas is a picaresque novel by Alain-René Lesage published between 1715 and 1735. It is considered to be the last masterpiece of the picaresque genre.-Plot summary:...
, by Alain-René Lesage
Alain-René Lesage
Alain-René Lesage was a French novelist and playwright. Lesage is best known for his comic novel The Devil upon Two Sticks , his comedy Turcaret , and his picaresque novel Gil Blas .-Youth and education:Claude Lesage, the father of the novelist, held the united...
.
Antoni Puigblanch died on September 25, 1840, at 51 Johnson Street (now Cranleigh Street), Somers Town, London
Somers Town, London
Somers Town, was named for Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers. The area in St Pancras, London, was originally granted by William III to John Somers, Lord Chancellor and Baron Somers of Evesham. It was to be strongly influenced by the three mainline north London railway termini: Euston , St...
.
Works
- Elementos de lengua hebrea. Madrid, 1808.
- (As Natanael JOMTOB) La Inquisición sin máscara, o disertación en que se prueban hasta la evidencia los vicios de este tribunal y la necesidad de que se suprima. Cádiz: Imprenta de Josef Niel, 1811.
- The Inquisition Unmasked. London, 1816. (Translation of La Inquisición sin máscara. Cádiz, 1811–1813)
- Opúsculos gramático-satíricos. London: Guillermo Guthrie, 1828. 2nd edition in two volumes, London, 1832.
- Prospecto de la obra... intitulada Observaciones sobre el origen y genio de la lengua Castellana. London, 1828.
- Filosofía del espíritu humano en cien lecciones. London, 1828.
- Sermones entresacados de los que escribió en idioma inglés el Rdo. Roberto Hall. London: J. Hill, 1832.