| Honorific-Prefix: | The Most Excellent |
| Pedro José Pidal | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | 1st Marquis of Pidal |
| Birth Name: | Pedro José Pidal y Carniado |
| Birth Date: | 25 November 1799 |
| Birth Place: | Villaviciosa, Spain |
| Death Place: | Madrid, Spain |
| Order: | 99th |
| Office: | President of the Congress of Deputies |
| Term Start: | 27 November 1843 |
| Term End: | 4 July 1844 |
| Predecessor: | Salustiano de Olózaga y Almandoz |
| Office2: | Ministry of Governance |
| Term Start2: | 3 May 1844 |
| Term End2: | 12 February 1846 |
| Successor2: | Francisco Javier de Istúriz |
| Term Start3: | 5 April 1846 |
| Term End3: | 28 January 1847 |
| Predecessor3: | Javier de Burgos |
| Office4: | Minister of State |
| Term Start4: | 29 July 1848 |
| Term End4: | 19 October 1849 |
| Predecessor4: | Carlos Martínez de Irujo |
| Term Start5: | 20 October 1849 |
| Term End5: | 14 January 1851 |
| Successor5: | Manuel Bertrán de Lis y Ribes |
| Term Start6: | 12 October 1856 |
| Term End6: | 15 October 1857 |
| Predecessor6: | Nicomedes Pastor Díaz y Corbelle |
| Successor6: | Leopoldo Augusto de Cueto |
| Office7: | Seat g of the Real Academia Española |
| Term Start7: | 25 February 1847 |
| Term End7: | 28 December 1865 |
| Predecessor7: | Seat established |
| Successor7: | Antonio Aparisi Guijarro |
Pedro José Pidal y Carniado, 1st Marquis of Pidal (25 November 1799 – 28 December 1865) was a Spanish lawyer, writer, politician (alcalde, deputy and senator) and academician who served important political offices in the reign of Isabella II of Spain, including those of Ministry of Governance,[1] Minister of State,[2] Minister of Justice and speaker of the Congress of Deputies.[3] [2]
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.[4]
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[5] —, 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[6] and among the many aspects the plan introduced were modifications to the syllabus, with the subjects of Spanish literature introduced at secondary level[7] and geography and Spanish history introduced for both secondary and university students.
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.[8]
His son, Alejandro Pidal y Mon (1846–1913) would also become a deputy[9] (as well as Speaker of Congress)[10] 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[11] and senador.[12]
|-|-|-