Ruiz Zorrilla, Manuel

Born Mar. 22, 1833, in El Burgo de Osma, province of Soria; died June 13, 1895, in Burgos. Spanish political figure.

Ruiz was a participant in the revolution of 1854–56 and the revolutionary actions of the 1860’s, having allied himself with the Progressists. He entered government at the beginning of the Revolution of 1868, and became minister of farming, trade, and industry; in the period 1869–70 he was minister of justice. In 1870, as president of the Constituent Cortes, he supported the election to the throne of Duke Amadeo of Savoy. In 1871 he was appointed minister of agriculture, then premier. He resigned in the autumn of 1871; in June 1872 he resumed the post of premier and remained premier until 1873. He endorsed the republic after it was proclaimed in 1873. In 1875, as an opponent of the monarchy, he was expelled from the country by Alfonso XII. He participated abroad in a number of plots and actions against the monarchy in Spain. After abandoning political activity, he returned to Spain shortly before his death.