Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba

The Duke of Alba
Photographed in Real Maestranza de Sevilla uniform, 1937
Minister of State of Spain
In office
30 January 1930  18 February 1931
MonarchAlfonso XIII
Prime MinisterDámaso Berenguer
Preceded byMiguel Primo de Rivera
Succeeded byÁlvaro de Figueroa
Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts of Spain
In office
30 January  24 February 1930
MonarchAlfonso XIII
Prime MinisterDámaso Berenguer
Preceded byEduardo Callejo de la Cuesta
Succeeded byElías Tormo
Representative of the Nationalist Faction in the United Kingdom
In office
21 November 1937  8 March 1939
GeneralísimoFrancisco Franco
Deputy Prime MinisterFrancisco Gómez-Jordana
Ambassador of Spain to the United Kingdom
In office
1939   1942
CaudilloFrancisco Franco
Prime MinisterFrancisco Franco
Minister of Foreign AffairsFrancisco Gómez-Jordana
Juan Luis Beigbeder
Ramón Serrano Suñer
Preceded byPablo de Azcárate
Succeeded byJosé Ruiz de Arana y Bauer
Seat of the Real Academia Española
In office
14 March 1943  24 September 1953
Preceded byManuel de Saralegui y Medina
Succeeded byPedro Laín Entralgo
Personal details
Born
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó

17 October 1878
Madrid, Spain
Died24 September 1953(1953-09-24) (aged 74)
Lausanne, Switzerland
SpouseMaría del Rosario de Silva, Duchess of Alba
ChildrenCayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba
ResidenceLiria Palace
Medal record
Men's Polo
Representing  Spain
Olympic Games
1920 AntwerpTeam competition

Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó, 17th Duke of Alba, 10th Duke of Berwick, GE, LH, GCVO (17 October 1878 – 24 September 1953) was a Spanish peer, diplomat, politician, art collector and Olympic medalist. He was one of the most important aristocrats of his time and held, among other titles, the dukedoms of Alba de Tormes and Berwick, the Countship of Lemos, Lerín, Montijo and the Marquessate of Carpio. He was granted the Order of the Golden Fleece of Spain in 1926.

A close friend and relative of the British royal family, he was one of the leading guests at the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II in 1947.