The Duke of Grimaldi | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byFrancisco Javier Ramos | |
| Chief Minister of Spain | |
| In office 9 October 1763 – 19 February 1777 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Preceded by | Ricardo Wall |
| Succeeded by | José Moñino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paolo Girolamo Grimaldi (1710-07-10)10 July 1710 Genoa,Republic of Genoa |
| Died | 1 October 1789(1789-10-01) (aged 79) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
Pablo Jerónimo Grimaldi y Pallavicini, 1st Duke of Grimaldi,GE (6 July 1710 – 1 October 1789) was aSpanishdiplomat andpolitician. After extensive experience as an Ambassador, Grimaldi served as Chief Minister of Spain between 1763 and 1778 helping to rebuild Spanish power following its defeat during theSeven Years' War. For his services as Secretary of State, he was granted the title ofDuke of Grimaldi by KingCharles III of Spain. Grimaldi was ofGenoese descent, and a member of theHouse of Grimaldi.
Pablo Jeronimo was born as the younger son of Francesco Maria Grimaldi (d. 1754),Senator of theRepublic of Genoa and his wife, Maria GiovannaPallavicini (1679-1741). His brother Raniero Grimaldi also served as the Senator of the Republic ofGenoa.[citation needed]
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In the service of Spanish KingsFerdinand VI andCharles III, Grimaldi was minister plenipotentiary inSweden andParma, and ambassador to theStates-General of theUnited Provinces. Charles III named him ambassador toParis, where together with French Secretary of StateÉtienne François, duc de Choiseul he negotiated the thirdFamily Compact between France and Spain. This provoked the entry of Spain into the war with Britain. He also signed thePeace of Paris in 1763.
In September 1763, after the dismissal ofRicardo Wall he was named Spanish Minister of State, a position he held until 1776. He was a reformer, a member of the group known asgolillas. Together with theLeopoldo de Gregorio, Marquis of Esquilache he helped suppress the 1766 riots provoked by Esquilache's reforms. (His house was sacked during the rioting.) He was a member of thejunta that voted for the suppression of theJesuits in 1767.
In 1776, after various conflicts, particularly the defeat of the 1775 expedition toAlgiers, he was removed from office and made ambassador inRome. He was madegrandee of Spain and decorated with theOrder of the Golden Fleece, 1765. He was also granted the title ofDuque de Grimaldi, 8 April 1777, by KingCharles III of Spain, a.k.a. former KingCharles VII of Naples, for his services to the Spanish Crown. The successor in his government positions was also a "golilla", namely,José Moñino, 1st Count of Floridablanca, (Murcia, Spain, 21 October 1728 -Seville, Spain, 30 December 1808).
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary of State (Chief Minister) 1763–1777 | Succeeded by |
| Spanish nobility | ||
| Preceded by New creation | Duke of Grimaldi 1777–1789 | Succeeded by Francisco Grimaldi |
