Pedro Cortina y Mauri (18 March 1908 in

La Pobla de Segur La Pobla de Segur is a municipality located in the comarca of Pallars Jussà, province of Lleida, Catalonia, in northern Spain. According to the 2013 census ( INE), the town has a population of 3,073 inhabitants. It is situated at the confluence ...

– 14 February 1993 in

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...

) was a Spanish politician and diplomat who served as the last

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between co ...

under Francisco Franco between 1970 and 1975 and the first one with democracy until 1980. He had been Ambassador to France. He is the father of the famous businessmen

Alfonso Alphons (Latinized ''Alphonsus'', ''Adelphonsus'', or ''Adefonsus'') is a male given name recorded from the 8th century (Alfonso I of Asturias, r. 739–757) in the Christian successor states of the Visigothic kingdom in the Iberian peninsula. ...

and Alberto Cortina. His wife died in 1976.

Professional life

Pedro Cortina Mauri started his career as Doctor in Law at the University of The Hague and University of Madrid. He then joined the Spanish Government with Franco to help establish the first relationships of the new government with France as Ambassador of Spain in Paris until 1970. In 1970, he became the last Minister of Foreign Affairs with General Franco, a position that he continued in when democracy arrived to Spain in 1975. He continued in this position until 1980. Among the key issues he handled were the decolonisation of Mauritania by Spain negotiated together with the US and the decolonisation of Equatorial Guinea. In 1957, he established the Spanish beer San Miguel (Fábricas de Cerveza y Malta, SA - a licensing agreement with the original Filipino

San Miguel Beer San Miguel Beer refers to San Miguel Pale Pilsen, a Filipino pale lager produced by San Miguel Brewery (a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation). Established in San Miguel, Manila in 1890 by the original San Miguel Brewery (renamed San Miguel Co ...

brand) where he was Chairman and CEO at the time of his death. San Miguel was then passed to his sons Alfonso and Alberto, who later sold it on to become a component of the

Mahou-San Miguel Group Mahou San Miguel is a Spanish brewing company, founded in Madrid in 1890 under the name of ''Hijos de Casimiro Mahou, fábrica de hielo y cerveza'' (The Sons of Casimiro Mahou, production of ice and beer). Mahou San Miguel is the leading brand in ...

in 2000.

Recognitions

Among others he received the following recognitions: * Permanent Member of the Cabinet of Spain * Gran Cruz of King Carlos III * Gran Cruz of Queen Isabel La Catolica * Gran Cruz of San Raimundo de Peñafort * Gold Medal of the Spanish State * Gold Medal of the Spanish Army * Gold Medal of the Civil Merits * Chevalier de la

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

References

1908 births 1993 deaths Foreign ministers of Spain Members of the Cortes Españolas Ambassadors of Spain to France People from Pallars Jussà Politicians from Catalonia Spanish business executives Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Businesspeople from Catalonia {{spain-diplomat-stub