Pedro Cevallos

Gonzalo O'Farrill
Personal details
Born	Pedro Cevallos Guerra 1 August 1759 San Felices de Buelna, Spain
Died	29 May 1838 Seville, Spain

Pedro Cevallos Guerra (1 August 1759 – 29 May 1838) was a Spanish statesman and diplomat who served as Chief Minister from 1799 to 1808 during the Napoleonic Wars, although Manuel Godoy, a personal favourite of the Spanish King, had a vast influence over political affairs.

Early life

Cevallos was born in

in 1777 to study law. He was very successful, and in 1781 joined the faculty as a professor, remaining there until 1790.

Diplomatic and political career

In 1790 Cevallos switched to the diplomatic service, serving from 1793 to 1795 as First Secretary to the Spanish Embassy in Lisbon. He then returned home and worked for the finance ministry.

Chief Minister

In 1799, the Spanish King

, a former Secretary, who held no official role but wielded enormous power.

French invasion

Spain's situation had been precarious since the beginning of the

and try to negotiate a cessation of hostilities, but was seized by the French and taken as a prisoner to France.

Cevallos tendered his resignation on 7 July and fled to London for the remainder of the war, returning to Spain once Madrid had been liberated in 1814. He briefly headed the new government from 15 November, before retiring on 24 January 1816. Cevallos died in 1838.

Political offices
Preceded by Francisco Saavedra de Sangronis	Secretary of State (Chief Minister) 1799–1808	Succeeded by Gonzalo O'Farrill
Preceded by Gonzalo O'Farrill	Secretary of State (Chief Minister) 1808–1808	Succeeded by Mariano Luis de Urquijo
Preceded by José Miguel de Carvajal-Vargas	Secretary of State (Chief Minister) 1814–1816	Succeeded by Juan Esteban Lozano de Torres
Preceded by Juan Esteban Lozano de Torres	Secretary of State (Chief Minister) 1816–1816	Succeeded by José García de León y Pizarro

See also

• List of prime ministers of Spain