José de Salamanca, Marquis of Salamanca
The Marquess of Salamanca | |
|---|---|
| Full name | José María de Salamanca y Mayol |
| Born | 23 May 1811 Málaga, Spain |
| Died | 21 January 1883 (aged 71) Carabanchel Bajo, Spain |
| Spouse(s) | Petronila Livermore y Salas |
José de Salamanca y Mayol, 1st Marquess of Salamanca, 1st Count of Llanos, GE (23 May 1811 – 21 January 1883) was a Spanish businessman and politician. He served as Finance Minister of Spain and briefly as de facto prime minister in 1847.
Prominent during the reign of Isabella II, he was responsible for an extension to the city of Madrid; the Salamanca neighborhood of that city now bears his name. He had an adventurous life with many ups and downs, being Spain’s wealthiest man during a significant period of his life and one of the largest fortunes in the world at one point. His prominent associates included Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, queen mother and regent for the young Queen Isabella. As a businessman, he undertook many projects that shaped modern Spain: railways, construction of entire neighborhoods, banking and investments; at the same time, he was associated with no small amount of political and corporate corruption.