Álvaro de Albornoz y Liminiana (June 13, 1879, Asturias – October 22, 1954, Mexico) was a Spanish lawyer, writer, and one of the founders of the Second Republic of Spain.Fernández, Tomás y Tamaro, Elena: "Biografia de Álvaro de Albornoz Liminiana". In: ''Biografías y Vidas. La enciclopedia biográfica en línea''. Barcelona, España, 2004

Early life

He began his early studies in his native town of

Luarca Luarca (Ḷḷuarca in Asturian language, Asturian and coofficially) is a parish and the principal town in the Municipalities of Spain, municipality of Valdés, Asturias, Valdés in Asturias, Spain. Luarca (town) is a fishing and pleasure port. L ...

, then he went to the University of Oviedo to study law. During his university years he experienced the excitement of the Republican Party in

Oviedo Oviedo () or Uviéu (Asturian language, Asturian: ) is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain and the administrative and commercial centre of the region. It is also the name of the municipality that contains th ...

which was very common in the intellectual circles at that time. Some of his professors were Leopoldo Alas "Clarín" and Adolfo Álvarez Buylla, a knowledgeable Marxist and founder of the Sociology Seminary at the Faculty’s Library. After Oviedo, Albornoz continued to

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

where he was influenced by Francisco Giner de los Ríos and the "

Institución Libre de Enseñanza The Institución Libre de Enseñanza (ILE, English: ''Free Teaching Institution'') was a pedagogical experience developed in Spain for more than half a century (1876–1939). It was inspired by the Krausism, Krausist philosophy introduced at the Co ...

." Throughout these years, his social and political beliefs were shaped and reinforced. He then returned to Luarca, where in 1899 he and Amalia Salas were married. April 29, 1900, in Luarca, the couple's first child, Maria de la Concepción ("Concha") was born. The next year came "Alvarito," their son. Albornoz practiced law for ten years. He became more active with

socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

activities and wrote for the "La Aurora Social," a political newspaper in

Asturias Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain. It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...

. In 1909, he became a member of Lerroux’s

Radical Republican Party The Radical Republican Party (), sometimes shortened to the Radical Party, was a Spanish Radical party in existence between 1908 and 1936. Beginning as a splinter from earlier Radical parties, it initially played a minor role in Spanish parlia ...

. He was elected to the Spanish parliament in 1910. Following the 1914 elections, Albornoz left politics and the

to practice law and spend more time writing.

Political Career and the Second Spanish Republic

In 1929, when in the "Cárcel Modelo of Madrid" Albornoz would found, along with Marcelino Domingo, the new Radical Socialist Republican Party. In 1930, after the "Pact of San Sebastian," Albornoz was arrested, imprisoned, and court martialed for Treason by the Supreme Court of War and Navy. His assigned defense attorney was Victoria Kent, the first woman to pass the Spanish bar. Albornoz was acquitted of all charges. Albornoz was a member of the elected

Spanish Second Republic The Spanish Republic (), commonly known as the Second Spanish Republic (), was the form of democratic government in Spain from 1931 to 1939. The Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931 after the deposition of King Alfonso XIII. It was dissol ...

, and, after the king fled Spain, a member of the Provisional Revolutionary Committee of 1930, and chairman of the constitutional draft committee," As the first president of the "Tribunal de Garantías Constitucionales," he eventually assumed responsibility for some of the reforms authorized by the new progressive constitution—–included the dissolution of the Jesuit Fraternal order, secular divorce, suppression of the State budget for the "cult and cleric," and other provisions relating to the installation of a secular government. He also served as

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

and

Minister of Public Works This list indicates government departments in various countries dedicated to public works or infrastructure. See also * Public works * Ministry or Board of Public Works, the imperial Chinese ministry overseeing public projects from the Tang ...

. July 27, 1936, he was named the Spanish Second Republica's Ambassador to Paris. By September, he was replaced and faced with returning to a Spain inflamed by Civil War.

Life in Exile

In 1939, Albornoz, Salas, and daughter Concha de Albornoz emigrated to Havana, Cuba; and finally to Mexico City. His son Alvarito, Alavarito's wife Maria Araceli, and their son later joined them. In exile, Albornoz Alvaro continued his representation for the

and with the

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

community of Spanish exiles. He was a member of Spanish Republican Action. He also helped found the Ateneo Salmerón. He served on the committee of the Spanish Junta de Liberation, representing the Republican Left party, working closely with Indalecio Prieto. He continued to travel and advocate on behalf of the duly elected government of Spain. May 11, 1940, he was named President of the Republic of Spain in Exile (till June 27, 1945). He was also named Prime Minister from 1947 to 1951, two consecutive terms. He corresponded with people in France and the United States. He attended a

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

conference representing the

Second Spanish Republic The Spanish Republic (), commonly known as the Second Spanish Republic (), was the form of democratic government in Spain from 1931 to 1939. The Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931 after the deposition of Alfonso XIII, King Alfonso XIII. ...

government. But Franco—supported by the Church and Industry—was ensconced and Albornoz's work on behalf of the duly elected government came to no avail. Albornoz died October 22, 1954, in

Family

Albornoz's nephew (son of his sister) was Severo Ochoa the winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Arthur Kornberg. He was also the grand-uncle and god-father of Aurora de Albornoz, celebrated poet and literary critic.

Works

*''La Instrucción, el ahorro y la moralidad de las clases trabajadoras'' (1900) *''No liras, lanzas'' (1903) *''Individualismo y socialismo'' (1908) *''Ideario radical'' (1913) *''El partido republicano'' (1918) *''El temperamento español, la democracia y la libertad'' (1921) *''La tragedia del estado español'' (1925) *''La Democracia'' (1925) *''Intelectuales y hombres de acción'' (1927) *''La Libertad'' (1927) *''El gran collar de la justicia'' (1930) *''El gobierno de los caudillos militares'' (1930) *''La política religiosa de la República'' (1935) *''Al servicio de la República. De la Unión Republicana al Frente Popular. Criterios de Gobierno'' (1936) *''Páginas del destierro'' (1941). *''Semblanzas españolas'' (1954)

References

External links

Jesus Mella, "Un Jacobian in the Form of Álvaro Albornoz," blog, internet web cite, Sept. 2013

{{DEFAULTSORT:Albornoz, Alvaro de 1879 births 1954 deaths People from Valdés, Asturias Radical Republican Party politicians Radical Socialist Republican Party politicians Republican Left (Spain) politicians Justice ministers of Spain Members of the Congress of Deputies of the Spanish Restoration Members of the Congress of Deputies of the Second Spanish Republic Politicians from Asturias Spanish people of the Spanish Civil War (Republican faction) Exiles of the Spanish Civil War in Mexico University of Oviedo alumni Exiled Spanish politicians Government ministers during the Second Spanish Republic