Sebastián de la Cuadra, 1st Marquess of Villarías, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetSebastián de la Cuadra, 1st Marquess of Villarías
Spanish politician
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Muskiz, Basque Country, Spain
About Sebastián de la Cuadra, 1st Marquess of Villarías
- Sebastián de la Cuadra y Llarena, 1st Marquess of Villarías (19 January 1687 – 23 April 1766) was a Spanish statesman.
- He served as Chief Minister between 1736 and 1746 during the reign of Philip V of Spain. He was the third son of Simón de la Quadra y Medrano, Síndico General of the Comarca of Las Encartaciones.
- In 1700, he moved to Madrid, where he was a protégé of future Secretary of State José de Grimaldo.
- He became in 1719 Mayor of Muskiz, a Basque town exploiting iron ores and local smelters, having two himself, one working as early as the 15th century.
- But he remained in Madrid and was represented in Muskiz by his brother Agustin.
- He became a Knight of the Military Order of Santiago in 1730 (sig.
- 2239) and Oficial Mayor to the Secretary of State in 1731. In 1736 he became himself First Secretary of State, when José Patiño died.
- From 1741 he also controlled the Justice Department.
- For much of this late period in office, Spain was involved in the War of Jenkins' Ear with Britain and the War of the Austrian Succession in Italy.
- He was replaced by José de Carvajal y Lancáster in December 1746.
- For his service he was made Marqués de Villarías by King Philip V of Spain on 22 March 1739, an honour awarded sometimes either to outgoing First Ministers or during their tenure. He was a co-founder of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in 1744.
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