Cristóbal Colón, 14th Duke of Veragua

Admiral Cristóbal Colón y de la Cerda, 14th Duke of Veragua, 12th Marquess of Jamaica (8 June 1837 in Madrid – 30 October 1910 in Madrid), was a Spanish Minister of Public Works during the regency of Maria Christina of Austria and Minister of the Navy during the same period and during the reign of Alfonso XIII.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Colón and the second or maternal family name is de la Cerda.
Admiral of the Ocean Sea
The Most Excellent
The Duke of Veragua
The Duke as Minister of the Navy
Admiral of the Ocean Sea
Admiral of the Indies
Adelantado of the Indies
In office
1871–1910
MonarchsAmadeo I
Alfonso XII
Alfonso XIII
Preceded by13th Duke of Veragua
Succeeded by15th Duke of Veragua
Minister of Public Works
In office
21 January 1890 – 5 July 1890
MonarchAlfonso XIII
Prime MinisterPráxedes Mateo Sagasta
Preceded byJose Álvarez de Toledo
Succeeded bySantos Isasa
Minister of the Navy
In office
6 March 1901 – 6 December 1902
MonarchAlfonso XIII
Prime MinisterPráxedes Mateo Sagasta
Preceded byJosé Ramos Izquierdo
Succeeded byJoaquin Sanchez de Toca
Personal details
Born
Cristóbal Colón y de la Cerda

(1837-06-08)8 June 1837
Madrid, Spain
Died30 August 1910(1910-08-30) (aged 73)
Madrid, Spain
SpouseIsabel Aguilera y Santiago de Perales
Children
  • María del Pilar Colón y Aguilera
  • Cristóbal Colón y Aguilera, 15h Duke of Veragua
  • Genaro Colón y Aguilera
Parents
  • Pedro Colón, 13th Duke of Veragua
  • María del Pilar de la Cerda y Gand-Villain
ProfessionNaval officer
Military service
Branch/serviceSpanish Navy
RankAdmiral

Biography

He was born in Madrid in 1837, and was the eldest son of Pedro Colón y Ramirez de Baquedano, the 13th Duke of Veragua and María del Pilar-Luisa de la Cerda y-Ghent Vilain, thus making him a direct descendant of famous explorer Christopher Columbus.
In addition to the XIV Duke of Veragua, he succeeded in his father's titles as: 14th Marquis of Jamaica, 14th Duke of la Vega, 16th Admiral of the Ocean Sea and 16th Adelantado mayor de las Indias. [1]

The Duke of Veragua began his political career as a deputy of the Province of Ávila in the elections of 1871, was re-elected in the elections of 1872, and in 1876 he was elected deputy in the district of Puerto Rico. In 1878 he was appointed Senator and became Vice President of the Senate.

Colón de la Cerda was Minister of Public Works during the regency of Maria Cristina of Austria and Minister of the Navy during the same period and during the reign of Alfonso XIII. In 1892 he received the Golden Fleece to celebrate the fourth centenary of the discovery of America. In 1897 de La Cerda was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.[2]

In March 1900 he was in charge of a special mission sent to Berlin to invest the German Crown Prince Wilhelm with the Order of the Golden Fleece on behalf of King Alfonso XIII.[3]

Marriage and children

In 1867, he married Isabel de Aguilera Santiago-Perales, daughter of the Marquises of Benalúa.
The couple had three children:

  • Genaro Colón y Aguilera (1873), died very young
  • María del Pilar Colón y Aguilera (1875-1931), 15th Duchess of La Vega
  • Cristóbal Colón y Aguilera (1878-1936), 15th Duke of Veragua, died assassinated at the start of the Spanish Civil War. No issue.[4]

References
  1. Real Academia de la Historia
  2. American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  3. "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36080. London. 3 March 1900. p. 11.
  4. Real Academia de la Historia
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