The Floridablanca Ministry was a Spanish government that served between 1777 and 1792 during the reigns of Charles III of Spain and Charles IV of Spain. It was headed by the Count of Floridablanca, a prominent reformer, who sought to press on with the program of reforms initiated by his predecessor Grimaldi.
One of the pillars of Floridablanca's beliefs was that friendly relations with Britain were crucial for the general improvement of Spain. It was considered ironic that in 1779 Spain, at the urging of the King, entered the American War of Independence on France's side, declaring war in Britain.
Despite his reluctance, Floriblanca took much of the credit for the war, as a Spanish force took advantage of the overstretched British Navy and took several of their colonies in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. In the peace treaty that followed, Spain was awarded Minorca and Florida which had been lost to the British earlier in the century.
The war strengthened the governments position during the 1780s, and they pressed ahead with many reforms. A new threat to power began to emerge in the form of Manuel Godoy, a royal favourite and a Francophile, who grew increasingly influential. Following the outbreak of the French Revolution the reforming liberalism of Floridablanca and his followers rapidly fell out of fashion, and he was dismissed to make way for Godoy in 1792.
| Portfolio | Image | Holder | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Secretary of State (PM) | The Count of Floridablanca | 19 February 1777 – 8 July 1787 | |
| Secretary of State for Grace and Justice | 30 August 1782 – 8 July 1787 (acting) | ||
| Secretary of State for Indies | 17 June – 8 July 1787 (acting) | ||
| Marquess de Sonora | 19 February 1777 – 17 June 1787 | ||
| Secretary of State for Grace and Justice | Manuel de Roda Arraiera | 19 February 1777 – 30 August 1782 | |
| Secretary of State for War | Ambrosio de Funes Villalpando | 19 February 1777 – 15 July 1780 | |
| Miguel de Múzquiz y Goyeneche | 15 July 1780 – 21 January 1785 | ||
| Secretary of State for the Treasury | 19 February 1777 – 21 January 1785 | ||
| Pedro López de Lerena | 21 January 1785 – 8 July 1787 | ||
| Secretary of State for War | 21 January 1785 – 29 June 1787 | ||
| Jerónimo Caballero y Vicente del Campo | 29 June – 8 July 1787 | ||
| Secretary of State for the Navy | Pedro González de Castejón | 19 February 1777 – 9 March 1783 | |
| Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán | 9 March 1783 – 8 July 1787 |
| First Secretary of State (PM) | The Count of Floridablanca | 8 July 1787 – 28 February 1792 | |
| Secretary of State for Grace and Justice | 8 July 1787 – 25 April 1790 (acting) | ||
| Antonio Aniceto Porlier | 25 April 1790 – 28 February 1792 | ||
| Secretary of State for Grace and Justice of Indies | 8 July 1787 – 25 April 1790 | ||
| Secretary of State for the Treasury | Pedro López de Lerena | 8 July 1787 – 16 October 1791 | |
| Diego de Gardoqui | 16 October 1791 – 28 February 1792 | ||
| Secretary of State for War | Jerónimo Caballero y Vicente del Campo | 8 July 1787 – 27 April 1790 | |
| Manuel Negrete de la Torre | 27 April 1790 – 28 February 1792 | ||
| Secretary of State for the Navy | Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán | 8 July 1787 – 28 February 1792 | |
| Secretary of State for War, Treasury, Commerce and Navigation of Indies | 8 July 1787 – 25 April 1790 |