Adelardo López de Ayala y Herrera

Adelardo López de Ayala (* March 1829 in Seville, † December 30, 1879 in Madrid) was a Spanish poet and politician.

López initially studied law in Sevilla, but afterwards devoted himself entirely to poetry and gained through his poetic works recognition and the favor of the nation.

Works (selection)

His most important works were:

• El hombre de estado ( 1851).
• Culpa y perdon ( guilt and forgiveness )
• Los dos Guzmanes
• El tanto por ciento, (1861 ): A satire on the profit motive and the overvaluation of the material
• Los comuneros and the drama
• Consuelo (1870 ): The flirtatious and dishonest title character attracts the rich, selfish wholesale merchant in front of her poor but reliable old friend.

Even in the political events of that time López took significant share. At first he was a follower of Narvaez, then he founded with Cánovas del Castillo and Ulloa, the Liberal Union and was one of the most outstanding speakers in the Cortes. On the Revolution of 1868 under General Prim, which ended the reign of Isabella he took part and wrote the Manifesto of Cadiz. But when things in Spain took a radical transition in his view, and the federal republic zutrieben, he rejoined Canovas for the restoration of the monarchy and took over in the first ministries of King Alfonso XII. the financial system of the colonies. Later, he was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies and died on December 30, 1879.