Segismundo Moret
Encyclopedia
Segismundo Moret y Prendergast (June 2, 1833 – 28 January 1913) was a Spanish
politician and writer.
on 2 June 1833. He studied at the Universidad Central in Madrid
where in 1858 he became professor of political economy, continuing at the same time his studies in jurisprudence.
In 1863 he was elected representative to parliament as an independent representing the town of Almadén
in the province of Ciudad Real
. He was reelected in 1868 after the Revolution of 1868 and he took part in the writing of the new Spanish Constitution of 1869. He was noted for his eloquence.
As Minister of Overseas Colonies (Ultramar) in the government presided by General Prim in 1870 he pushed for the abolition of slavery
and the creation of a constitution
for Puerto Rico
. In 1871 he was Minister of the Treasury (hacienda) in the first government of King Amadeo I
and in 1872 he was appointed ambassador in London
but resigned after some months and accepted a directorship in a large British Bank..
With the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty to the Spanish throne in 1875 he returned to Spain
where he founded the Partido Democrático-Monárquico party. He was again elected deputy for Ciudad Real in 1879, rallied to the monarchy in 1882. In 1883 he was appointed Minister of the Interior (Gobernación) and after 1885 he joined the Liberal party in which he cooperated with Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
as Minister of State (estado, foreign affairs, 1885-1888), Interior (Gobernación, 1888, 1901, 1902), Development (Fomento) (1892), State (Estado, foreign affairs, 1892, 1894) and Overseas Colonies (Ultramar, 1897-1898). When Sagasta died he participated in the quarrels for the control of the party.
In 1897 as Minister for Overseas Colonies (Ultramar) he decreed the autonomy for Cuba
and Puerto Rico
in a vain attempt to avoid their secession. In 1902 he collaborated in the creation of the Institute of Social Reform which was a precursor of the future Ministry of Labor.
In 1905, after the resignation of Montero Rios he became prime minister but he was forced to resign in July 1906 when he lost the majority in the parliament (Cortes Generales) although he became again prime minister for a brief period of the same year (30 November - 4 December)
After the tragic events of the "Tragic Week
" in 1909 in Barcelona he was again appointed prime minister after the resignation of Antonio Maura while he was also Minister of the Interior. He was forced to resign in February 1910 when he was replaced by José Canalejas
. In 1912 Canalejas was murdered and the new prime minister, Álvaro Figueroa Torres, Count of Romanones, appointed him as president of the House of Representatives (Congreso de los Diputados) which he was until his death on 28 January 1913.
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...
politician and writer.
Biography
He was born in CádizCádiz
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....
on 2 June 1833. He studied at the Universidad Central in 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...
where in 1858 he became professor of political economy, continuing at the same time his studies in jurisprudence.
In 1863 he was elected representative to parliament as an independent representing the town of Almadén
Almadén
Almadén, Spain, is a town and municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, within the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. The town is located at 4° 49' W and 38° 46' N and is 589 meters above sea level. Almadén is approximately 200 km south of Madrid in the Sierra Morena...
in the province of Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real is a city in Castile-La Mancha, Spain, with a population of c. 74,000. It is the capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It has a stop on the AVE high-speed rail line and has begun to grow as a long-distance commuter suburb of Madrid, located 115 miles to the north. A high capacity...
. He was reelected in 1868 after the Revolution of 1868 and he took part in the writing of the new Spanish Constitution of 1869. He was noted for his eloquence.
As Minister of Overseas Colonies (Ultramar) in the government presided by General Prim in 1870 he pushed for the abolition of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and the creation of a constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In 1871 he was Minister of the Treasury (hacienda) in the first government of King Amadeo I
Amadeo I of Spain
Amadeo I was the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy...
and in 1872 he was appointed ambassador 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...
but resigned after some months and accepted a directorship in a large British Bank..
With the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty to the Spanish throne in 1875 he returned to 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...
where he founded the Partido Democrático-Monárquico party. He was again elected deputy for Ciudad Real in 1879, rallied to the monarchy in 1882. In 1883 he was appointed Minister of the Interior (Gobernación) and after 1885 he joined the Liberal party in which he cooperated with Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Práxedes Mariano Mateo Sagasta y Escolar was a Spanish politician who served as Prime Minister on eight occasions between 1870 and 1902—always in charge of the Liberal Party—as part of the turno pacifico, alternating with the Liberal-Conservative leader Antonio Cánovas...
as Minister of State (estado, foreign affairs, 1885-1888), Interior (Gobernación, 1888, 1901, 1902), Development (Fomento) (1892), State (Estado, foreign affairs, 1892, 1894) and Overseas Colonies (Ultramar, 1897-1898). When Sagasta died he participated in the quarrels for the control of the party.
In 1897 as Minister for Overseas Colonies (Ultramar) he decreed the autonomy for Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in a vain attempt to avoid their secession. In 1902 he collaborated in the creation of the Institute of Social Reform which was a precursor of the future Ministry of Labor.
In 1905, after the resignation of Montero Rios he became prime minister but he was forced to resign in July 1906 when he lost the majority in the parliament (Cortes Generales) although he became again prime minister for a brief period of the same year (30 November - 4 December)
After the tragic events of the "Tragic Week
Tragic Week
Tragic Week is the name used for a series of bloody confrontations between the Spanish army and the working classes of Barcelona and other cities of Catalonia , backed by anarchists, socialists and republicans, during the last week of July 1909.It was caused by the calling-up of...
" in 1909 in Barcelona he was again appointed prime minister after the resignation of Antonio Maura while he was also Minister of the Interior. He was forced to resign in February 1910 when he was replaced by José Canalejas
José Canalejas
José Canalejas y Méndez was a Spanish politician, born in Ferrol.-Early life:Canalejas graduated in 1871 from the University of Madrid, took his Galicia doctor's degree in 1872 and became a lecturer on literature in 1873...
. In 1912 Canalejas was murdered and the new prime minister, Álvaro Figueroa Torres, Count of Romanones, appointed him as president of the House of Representatives (Congreso de los Diputados) which he was until his death on 28 January 1913.