Javier de Burgos | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Francisco Javier de Burgos y del Olmo (1778-10-22)22 October 1778 Motril, Spain |
| Died | 22 January 1848(1848-01-22) (aged 69) Madrid, Spain |
| SeatR of theReal Academia Española | |
| In office 7 January 1830 – 22 January 1848 | |
| Preceded by | José Miguel de Carvajal-Vargas |
| Succeeded by | Juan Donoso Cortés |
Francisco Javier de Burgos y del Olmo (22 October 1778—22 January 1848) was a Spanishjurist, politician, journalist, and translator.
Born inMotril, into a noble but poor family, he was destined for a career in theRoman Catholic Church, but soon abandoned his studies in Granada and left for Madrid - where he took law courses. When theFrench invaded underNapoleon I, at the start of thePeninsular War (1808-1814), Burgos, as one of theafrancesados (supporters ofKingJoseph I), took up administrative duties inAndalusia. His willingness to collaborate had made him an enemy of theHouse of Bourbon,[citation needed] and made him leave forParis in 1812.
In France, Burgos completed his academic training by studying the works of theClassics, and started translating the works ofHorace intoCastilian (a version notably analysed byAndrés Bello, who deemed Burgos "a poor translator, but an excellent commentator"). Much later (1844), Burgos published a revised version, which, although still flawed, has remained a reference - for instance, it is appreciated for its use of thesapphic stanza withfree verse.
He returned to Madrid in 1819, and was appointed editor ofEl Imparcial in 1822 (the paper was a rallying point for moderateliberalism and theafrancesados). During the same period, Burgos showed himself to be a prolific author, writing a publishing a multiple volume work entitledBiografía universal. He was also integrated in the Bourbon administration ofFerdinand VII, being appointed undersecretary of State inFrancisco Cea Bermúdez's Ministry. Under theregency ofMaria Christina, as the driving force behind the1833 territorial division of Spain, Burgos used his influence to turn Spain's previous administrative system into aprovincial one, advocating for the need of acentralized government. However, his design overtly conflicted with theself-government status held by theBasque districts, especially with Navarre, heavily conditioned but stilla free-standing Kingdom. The move was approved in November–December 1833, the same year he becameHome Minister.
He was elected to seatR of theReal Academia Española, he took up his seat on 7 January 1830.[1]
He was asenator of theModerado liberals regime established during thereign ofIsabella II, as well as a royal counsellor and Interior Minister for the firstgovernment ofRamón María Narváez y Campos, Duke of Valencia. His office as Minister was taken over by Narváez's successor,Francisco Javier Istúriz. He died inMadrid.
He also wrote poems marking events such as the death ofMaría Isabel de Braganza and the wedding of Ferdinand VII and Maria Christina, as well as the notableOda a la Razón.
