Too Moderate to be Progressive. The Evolution of a Liberal Courtier Diplomat in XIX Century Spain

Abstract

Mauricio Carlos de Onís began serving as a diplomat during both the Peninsular War and the Liberal Triennium. He was a progressive, liberal politician during the Regencies. His family included both enlightened reformist diplomats, and moderate realists. In 1843, he began to evolve from progressivism to moderate positions. He became a «notable» Castilian and a servant of the Court with aspirations to a nobility title. His evolution was similar to that of other progressives who were part of the Liberal Union at the end of Elizabeth II’s reign. Being a personality from the time of the Napoleonic wars and the liberal revolution, it is difficult to classify him as an heir to his relatives’ enlightened reformism, thus ascribing to temperate liberalism during the Triennium –and evolving during the Regency of María Cristina towards progressivism, as secretary of the Congress in the constituent legislature. His family ties with the González Salmón and the Heredia –some of whom were presidents of the government– and with the network of political friends with a similar evolution towards doctrinaire liberalism, such as Antonio González and Pedro Pascual Oliver– were crucial in his career. After his promotion to Foreign Minister in 1840, and to the presidency of the Senate in 1843, he favored «legal, moderate progress», distancing himself from both General Espartero’s liberal followers and the moderate party. A great landowner in Salamanca, he joined the Court in the entourage of the infant Francisco de Paula Borbón and his son, the king consort. He was also a capitalist investor in mercantile companies and a promoter of public works, presiding over the Sociedad Económica Matritense.