Francisco Morales Padrón (1924 – 15 November 2010) was aSpanish historian recognized for his extensive research on the history of theSpanish Empire and aspects of 19th-century Spanish politics.
Padrón was born inSanta Brígida onGran Canaria. Morales Padrón began his studies at theUniversity of La Laguna and later moved toSeville, where he earned a degree in History of the Americas in 1949. Following his graduation, he held a scholarship at the Escuela de Estudios Hispanoamericanos and worked as an assistant in the library of José Antonio Calderón Quijano. In 1952, he completed his doctoral thesis in Madrid titledJamaica española.[1]
After obtaining his doctorate, Morales Padrón collaborated with theSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)[2] and served as Professor of the Chair of History of Geographical Discoveries at theUniversity of Seville from 1958 to 1988. He held the title ofEmeritus Professor from 1988 until 2006. During his tenure at the university, he served as Vice Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, as well as Vice Dean of the Escuela de Estudios Hispanoamericanos.[1] He also directed the Department of History of the Americas from 1972 to 1978 and served as editor ofHistoriografía Americanista and theAnuario de Estudios Americanos from 1950 to 1975.[3] In 1976, he began organizing the Canarian-American history colloquia at the Casa de Colón in Las Palmas, which became a leading center for Americanist research.[4]
Morales Padrón frequently participated in international Americanist meetings in Europe and the Americas.[1] He also taught and conducted research at universities outside Spain, including those in Florence, Puerto Rico, Warsaw, and San Miguel de Tucumán, as well as at the Universidad Hispanoamericana de Santa María de la Rábida and the Instituto Pedagógico de Caracas.[2]
He authored approximately fifty books, most of which focus on the history of the Americas.[2] Notable works includeHistoria de América (two volumes, 1962),Historia del Descubrimiento y Conquista de América (1963),Los conquistadores de América (1975),Teoría y Leyes de la Conquista (1979),Historia de Hispanoamérica (1972),Sevilla, Canarias y América (1970), andSevilla en América, América en Sevilla (2009). Prior to his death, he had prepared two works for publication, including a history of the island ofTrinidad.[1]
Morales Padrón's research looked into the process of the conquest of theCanary Islands, which spanned from 1402 to 1496. He examined the methods employed during this period, including the use of terror, enslavement, and deportation, leading to the near-eradication of the indigenousGuanche population. His work highlighted the devastating impact of these actions, which involved the destruction of native culture, language, and social structures.[5]
Morales Padrón was named an honorary son of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and a distinguished son of Santa Brígida. In 2004, he received an honorary doctorate from theUniversity of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for his role in modernizing the study of Canarian history. Other awards include the Can de Plata from the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, honorary membership in theMuseo Canario, the Premio Canarias from the Government of the Canary Islands, the Ibn Jatib Humanities Prize from the Junta de Andalucía, the Alfonso X El Sabio plaque, the Order of Merit of the Republic of Peru, and theOrder of Andrés Bello of Venezuela.[4] He was also a member of theReal Academia Sevillana de Buenas Letras and a corresponding member of theReal Academia de Historia.[6]
