Pedro José Pidal

Pedro José Pidal y Carniado was born in Villaviciosa, Asturias. On finishing his Law studies, he moved to Madrid in 1822 and started working for a prestigious law firm[2] and collaborated with the short-lived daily El Espectador (1821-3), founded by his fellow Asturian liberal, Evaristo San Miguel.[5]

Before becoming increasingly involved in politics, he briefly (c. 1841) held the Chair of History of Government and Legislation in Spain at the Ateneo de Madrid.[2] He became an academician of the Real Academia Española in 1844,[2] of the Real Academia de la Historia in 1847, and director of this institution in 1852.[2]

Among the many other reforms carried out by Pidal as Minister of the Interior, the so-called Pidal Plan (1845) —the most important of a series of reforms in Spain's education system that would eventually lead to the so-called Ley Moyano (1857), which would remain in effect until 1970[6]—, implemented the first major overhaul of Spain's education system. Actually drawn up by his friend Antonio Gil y Zárate,[2] the plan called for state-run institutos to be created in each provincial capital[7] and among the many aspects the plan introduced were modifications to the syllabus, with the subjects of Spanish literature introduced at secondary level[8] and geography and Spanish history introduced for both secondary and university students.[nota 2]

The plan also created the first chair in International Law, a post first held, albeit briefly, by Lorenzo Arrazola y García, a former Minister of Justice, future Prime Minister of Spain and President of the Supreme Court.[10]

His son, Alejandro Pidal y Mon (1846–1913) would also become a deputy[11] (as well as Speaker of Congress)[12] and academician (also being appointed director of the Real Academia Española). His grandson, Pedro Pidal Bernaldo de Quirós (1870–1941) would likewise enter politics, becoming both deputy[13] and senador.[14]