- Agustín Argüelles
Agustín Argüelles (
Ribadesella ,Asturias ,August 18 1776 -Madrid ,March 26 1844 ) was a Spanish liberalpolitician .He studied
Law at theUniversity of Oviedo and worked as secretary of thebishop ofBarcelona . In 1809 he was appointed secretary of the patriotic Royal Junta of theTreasury and Legislation. He was member of theCádiz Cortes and was selected for the Constitutional commission, playing thus a key role in the redaction of theConstitution of 1812 . Siding with the liberal faction of the Parliament, he promotedpress freedom ,free-market andphysiocracy , the abolishment oftorture , the prosecution ofslave trade and the abolishment of the jurisdictional power ofmanors . He showed a notable oratorical skillfulness during the parliamentary debates.When in 1814 the War of Independence finished and
Ferdinand VII returned to Spain as absolute monarch, Argüelles was imprisoned inCeuta and later inAlcudia (Majorca ). After the Riego's coup d'etat in 1820, he was appointedminister of the Interior and led the moderate wing of the liberal party. He resigned in 1821 and was elected member of the Parliament in 1822. After the absolutist reaction of 1823, he exiled to Britain and turned back in 1834, when Queen Regent Maria Christina signed the "' Estatuto Real' ". He was elected member of the Parliament and also turned to his original progressive liberal positions back, giving support to Mendizábal cabinet of 1835 and his ecclesiastical confiscation policy. After the revolution of 1836, he was appointed member of the commission for composing the Constitution that was promulgated in 1837. Thanks to him and to Olózaga, the Constitution was progressive liberal but not so much as 1812's, as they hoped moderate liberals would accept it.When Queen Regent Maria Christina resigned in 1840, the Parliament debated whether to appoint one or three
regents , including Argüelles. Finally, General Espartero was elected as the only Regent, but Argüelles was appointedlegal guardian of QueenIsabella II (although Maria Christina protested the decision fromParis ) and president of the Parliament. He ceased to be legal tutor in 1843, when Espartero resigned as Regent and Parliament decided to declare come of age 13-year-old queen.He was
freemason . The Argüelles neighborhood ofMadrid is named after him.Writings
* with Olózaga, José: "De 1820 a 1824: reseña histórica", Madrid: A. de San Martín, 1864
*"Discurso preliminar de la Constitución de 1812", Madrid: Centro de Estudios Constitucionales, 1989
*"Examen histórico de la reforma constitucional de España", Oviedo: Junta General del Principado de Asturias, 1999
*"La reforma constitucional de Cádiz" (annoted by Jesús Longares), Madrid: Iter, 1970External links
*es icon [http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/12604731990156063087846/index.htm Parliamentary speeches during the Cádiz Cortes]
Bibliography
*Ramos Argüelles, Antonio: "Agustín Argüelles (1776-1844), "Padre del constitucionalismo español", Madrid: Atlas, 1991
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