Pascual Madoz

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Pascual Madoz (May 7, 1806-1870), Spanish politician, statistician, was born at Pampeluna.

In early life he was settled in Barcelona, as a writer and journalist. He joined the Progresista party formed during the first Carlist war, 1833-40. He saw some service against the Carlists; was elected deputy to the Cortes of 1836; took part for Baldomero Espartero, Count of Luchana, and then against him; was imprisoned in 1843; went into exile and returned; was governor of Barcelona in 1854, and minister of finance in 1855; had a large share in secularizing the Church lands; and after the revolution of 1868 was governor of Madrid. He had, however, no great influence as a leader and soon went abroad, dying at Genoa in 1870.

Madoz was distinguished from most of the politicians of his generation by the fact that in middle life he compiled what is still a book of value a geographical, statistical and historical dictionary of Spain and its possessions overseas, Diccionario geografico, estadistico y historico de Espana, y sus posesiones de Ultramar (Madrid, 1848-1850).