Lafuente y Zamalloa, Modesto

Born May 1,1806, in Rabanal de los Caballeros; died Oct. 25, 1866, in Madrid. Spanish historian, journalist, and political figure. Became a member of the Royal Academy of History in 1857.

Lafuente y Zamalloa received his bachelor’s degree in theology at the University of Valladolid in 1832. He founded the political satirical magazine Frau Gerundio in 1837. Active in the Spanish revolution of 1854–56, he subsequently joined the Liberal Union, a party of right-wing liberals. He was the author of the fundamental work History of Spain (vols. 1–30, 1850–67; the work was continued by J. Valera, who brought the account up through the death of Alfonso XII). History of Spain is rich in factual material on the political history of the country.