Pedro Cevallos
Encyclopedia
Pedro Cevallos Guerra was a Spanish
statesman
and diplomat
who served as Chief Minister between 1799 and 1808 during the Napoleonic Wars
, although Manuel Godoy, a personal favourite of the Spanish King had a vast influence over political affairs.
in 1760. He was educated at various schools and convents before in 1777 attending Valladolid University to study law. He was very successful, and in 1781 he joined the faculty as a professor remaining there until 1790.
, serving between 1793 and 1795 as First Secretary to the Spanish Embassy in Lisbon
. He returned home and worked for the finance ministry.
appointed him as Secretary of State, the De Facto Chief Minister, although Cevallos lacked the power and discretion of many of his predecessors as he was forced to share power with the ambitious Manuel de Godoy
, a former Secretary, who held no official role but wielded enormous power.
and in 1808 it grew worse. Spain and France had agreed to launch a joint invasion of their traditional and mutual enemy Portugal - but France had planned to betray their Spanish allies and conquer Spain as well. When this dawned on the Spanish elite, they pressed the King to abdicate. His replacement Ferdinand chose to meet Napoleon in the Pyranees to try and negotiate a cessation of hostilities but was seized by the French and taken as prisoners to France.
Cevallos tendered his resignation and fled to take refuge in London for the remainder of the war, returning once Madrid had been liberated in 1814. He briefly headed the new government, before retiring. He died in 1840.
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...
statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who served as Chief Minister between 1799 and 1808 during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, although Manuel Godoy, a personal favourite of the Spanish King had a vast influence over political affairs.
Early life
Cevallos was born in CantabriaCantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
in 1760. He was educated at various schools and convents before in 1777 attending Valladolid University to study law. He was very successful, and in 1781 he joined the faculty as a professor remaining there until 1790.
Diplomatic and Political Career
In 1790 Cevallos switched to the diplomatic serviceDiplomatic service
Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries...
, serving between 1793 and 1795 as First Secretary to the Spanish Embassy in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
. He returned home and worked for the finance ministry.
Chief Minister
In 1799 the Spanish King Charles IVCharles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
appointed him as Secretary of State, the De Facto Chief Minister, although Cevallos lacked the power and discretion of many of his predecessors as he was forced to share power with the ambitious Manuel de Godoy
Manuel de Godoy
Don Manuel Francisco Domingo de Godoy y Álvarez de Faria, de los Ríos y Sánchez-Zarzosa, also Manuel de Godoy y Álvarez de Faria de los Ríos Sánchez Zarzosa , was Prime Minister of Spain from 1792 to 1797 and from 1801 to 1808...
, a former Secretary, who held no official role but wielded enormous power.
French invasion
Spain's situation had been precarious since the beginning of the Napoleonic WarsNapoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and in 1808 it grew worse. Spain and France had agreed to launch a joint invasion of their traditional and mutual enemy Portugal - but France had planned to betray their Spanish allies and conquer Spain as well. When this dawned on the Spanish elite, they pressed the King to abdicate. His replacement Ferdinand chose to meet Napoleon in the Pyranees to try and negotiate a cessation of hostilities but was seized by the French and taken as prisoners to France.
Cevallos tendered his resignation and fled to take refuge in London for the remainder of the war, returning once Madrid had been liberated in 1814. He briefly headed the new government, before retiring. He died in 1840.