José Canalejas
Encyclopedia
José Canalejas y Méndez was a Spanish
politician, born in Ferrol.
, took his Galicia doctor's degree in 1872 and became a lecturer on literature in 1873. He later studied railway problems, but continued his literary work, publishing a history of Latin literature in two volumes.
in 1881, became under-secretary for the Prime Minister's department under Posada Herrera in 1883, he became minister of justice in 1888 and finance from 1894 to 1895. He was president of the chamber in the Moret administration, and became Prime Minister and chief of the Liberal party in 1910. While in office, he tried to introduce several electoral reforms that aimed to finish with bossims on public elections –quite common at the time, especially in rural areas–, and turn Spain into a true democracy
. His political reforms successfully faced the social turmoil that radical leftists and radical tories where creating within Spain.
However, on 12 November 1912, while Canalejas was window-shopping the literary novelties of the day from a book shop in central Madrid
, he was shot to death by anarchist Manuel Pardiñas
.
, the liberal historian, argued that the disasters Spain experienced during the 1930s could be traced to Canalejas' murder, given that this murder deprived King Alfonso XIII of one of his few genuine statesmen. Indeed, it is widely believed that Canalejas was able to successfully solve all the problems he faced while in office.
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...
politician, born in Ferrol.
Early life
Canalejas graduated in 1871 from the University of MadridUniversity of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a public university in Madrid, Spain, and one of the oldest universities in the world.The University of Madrid may also refer to:* The Autonomous University of Madrid, a public university founded in 1968...
, took his Galicia doctor's degree in 1872 and became a lecturer on literature in 1873. He later studied railway problems, but continued his literary work, publishing a history of Latin literature in two volumes.
Political career
Canalejas was elected deputy for SoriaSoria (Spanish Congress Electoral District)
Soria is one of the 52 electoral districts used for the Spanish Congress of Deputies - the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales...
in 1881, became under-secretary for the Prime Minister's department under Posada Herrera in 1883, he became minister of justice in 1888 and finance from 1894 to 1895. He was president of the chamber in the Moret administration, and became Prime Minister and chief of the Liberal party in 1910. While in office, he tried to introduce several electoral reforms that aimed to finish with bossims on public elections –quite common at the time, especially in rural areas–, and turn Spain into a true democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. His political reforms successfully faced the social turmoil that radical leftists and radical tories where creating within Spain.
However, on 12 November 1912, while Canalejas was window-shopping the literary novelties of the day from a book shop in central Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, he was shot to death by anarchist Manuel Pardiñas
Manuel Pardiñas
Manuel Pardiñas was a Spanish anarchist who assassinated José Canalejas, the Prime Minister of Spain. Pardiñas shot Canalejas in front of the San Martin Library in Madrid on November 12, 1912. Pardiñas then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. He was reportedly from the town of El Grado...
.
Legacy
Canalejas believed in the possibility of a monarchy open to a thoroughgoing democratic policy both in economic and in civil and political matters. Salvador de MadariagaSalvador de Madariaga
Salvador de Madariaga y Rojo was a Spanish diplomat, writer, historian and pacifist. He had two daughters....
, the liberal historian, argued that the disasters Spain experienced during the 1930s could be traced to Canalejas' murder, given that this murder deprived King Alfonso XIII of one of his few genuine statesmen. Indeed, it is widely believed that Canalejas was able to successfully solve all the problems he faced while in office.
External links
- José Canalejas Méndez Proyecto Filosofía en español
- José Canalejas Méndez Archivo Canalejas (In Spanish)
- José Canalejas Méndez Universidad Carlos III de Madrid - Biographical page in Spanish about "José Canalejas"