José Fernando Ramírez

Who was José Fernando Ramírez?

José Fernando Ramírez was a distinguished Mexican historian in the 19th century.

Ramírez was born in Parral, Chihuahua but grew up in Durango, where he became a prominent liberal politician. After graduating with a degree in law from San Luis Gonzaga he was elected several times to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. He chaired the Ministry of Foreign affairs under three different administrations and became a minister in the Supreme Court of Justice.

Ramírez specialized in Pre-Columbian and 16th century Mexican history and excelled as a biographer. He headed the Imperial Academy of Sciences and Literature during the Second Mexican Empire, directed the National Museum and built an impressive collection of historical documents. Among his works are Fray Toribio de Motolinía and several Amerindian codex translations such as The Quinantzin and The Aubin.

He died in Bonn, Germany on March 4, 1871.