Valentín Ferraz y Barrau

Who was Valentín Ferraz y Barrau?

Valentín Ferraz y Barrau was a Spanish military commander and politician. After fighting in the Peninsular War and in the Peruvian War of Independence Valentín engaged in the chaotic politics of the post-war reign of Isabella II of Spain, serving as Prime Minister of Spain in 1840 and holding other important offices such as Mayor of Madrid.

Born into a noble family established in the twelfth century around the Benasque Valley, Huesca, the family produced several illustrious clerics, politicians, lawyers and military strategists. He was the nephew of Antonio Cornel and Ferraz, the Spanish Minister of War for Charles IV of Spain and first cousin of Jose Ferraz and Cornel, Spanish Minister of Finance For Queen Isabella in 1840, and Francisco Javier Ferraz and Cornel, Lieutenant General and Chief Military Justice, also during the reign of Isabella II.