José de Salamanca, Marquis of Salamanca
José de Salamanca y Mayol, 1st Marquis of Salamanca and Grandee of Spain (23 May 1811 – 21 January 1883) was a Spanish nobleman, politician and businessman. He served as Finance Minister of Spain and briefly as de facto prime minister in 1847.
José de Salamanca | |||||
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1st Marquess of Salamanca, 1st Count of los Llanos | |||||
Born | Málaga, Spain | 23 May 1811||||
Died | Carabanchel Bajo, Spain | 21 January 1883||||
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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. At one time he probably had the largest fortune in Spain. 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.