About
Remembered both for his diplomatic and his literary work, Cortes served as a Spanish ambassador to France and penned politically-themed works such as Lessons from Political Law (1837) and Essay on Catholicism, Liberalism and Socialism, Considered in Their Fundamental Principles (1851).
Before Fame
He started studying law at the University of Salamanca when he was just twelve years old and, four years later, had graduated from the University of Seville. After teaching at the College of Caceres, he began his involvement in politics.
Trivia
By the end of his career, his views and works were mostly closely aligned with the Counter-Enlightenment, Spanish traditionalism, and Roman Catholic Ultramontanism movements.
Family Life
He spent his early years in Valle de la Serena, Extremadura, Spain. His ancestor Hernando Cortes was a famous early 16th-century Spanish Conquistador.
Associated With
Though his later views tended more toward the conservative, Cortes was influenced early in his career by the ideas of Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
