PARES | Spanish Archives

Identification

Type:

Person

Preferred form:

Rodríguez Marín, Francisco (1855-1943)

Dates of existence/Biographical dates:

Osuna (Sevilla, España) 1855 - Madrid (España) 1943

History:

Francisco Rodríguez was a lawyer, poet, journalist, and a member of the Corps of State archivists. He studied Law at the University of Seville and in 1880 he graduated in Civil and Canon Law.

In 1912, upon the death of Menéndez Pelayo, he was appointed Director of the National Library of Spain (BNE). He enjoyed a great reputation in his time as a specialist in the figure and work of Miguel de Cervantes. Nevertheless, his insufficiently elaborated editions of Don Quixote have not received good criticism. He also participated in the secular career in order to increase the unpublished documentation on Cervantes with his work: "Nuevos documentos cervantinos hasta ahora inéditos" (1914).

By virtue of his position as BNE Director, he was one of the protagonists of the III Centenary of Cervantes' death in 1916, being appointed President of the Executive Committee in charge of organizing the tribute. It was not finally held because of the First World War.

In addition, he was a great scholar of Andalusian folklore. He was co‑founder of the Andalusian Folklore Society, where he met Antonio Machado, as well as editor in different newspapers in Seville and Madrid. He was also a member of the Real Academia Sevillana de Buenas Letras (Seville Royal Academy of Literature), of the Spanish Royal Academy, and of the Royal Academy of History.

Although he retired at the age of 75 in 1930, he continued with his publications until his death in Madrid in 1943.