Ser gobernador y ministro en la España de mediados del siglo XIX: Melchor Ordóñez y Viana (1811- 1860)

Abstract

The spanish historiography of the 19th century gave scarce attention to the biographies of those who occupied decisive positions in the peripheral administration of the unitary and centralized State, established in 1812. This prosopographic gap is especially significant if we focus on the figure of the political leaders and civil governors, whose actions decisively contributed to the new liberal State consolidation. This study aims to fill part of that gap introducing one of those characters: Melchor Ordóñez y Viana. Political leader and civil governor in several provinces, he even came to occupy the Governance Ministry. His activity leading the administration of different provinces stood out in two topics: bullfighting and charity