PARES | Spanish Archives

Identification

Type:

Person

Preferred form:

Bretón de los Herreros, Manuel (1796-1873)

Fechas de existencia:

Quel (La Rioja, España) 1796-12-19 - Madrid (España) 1873-11-08

History:

Spanish playwright and academic of the Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy) (RAE). Son of Antonio Bretón and María Petra de los Herreros. In 1806, he moved with his family to Madrid, and started to study Latin and Arts in the Real Colegio de los Padres Escolapios de San Antonio Abad. His father's death and the complex economic situation of his family after that, led him to stop his studies, and he joined the Army. He also volunteered in the Peninsular War. He was a soldier until the end of the conflict. In 1822, being a member of the Liberal Party, he joined the Administration. Nevertheless, he did not work there for too long, because he collaborated as volunteer with Torrijos, so he had to run away to avoid any reprisal. He soon came back to Madrid and released his great sucess of theather "A la vejez viruelas" (1817). Between 1825 and 1829, he focused on studying the Spanish classical theater and writing plays that were mainly characterised by Costumbrismo and comedy. In 1830, he moved to Sevilla with the company of the producer and playwright Juan de Grimaldo. Just a year later, he began his career as theater critic at Correo Literario y Mercantil. In 1834, he was appointed editor of the Boletín de Comercio by Javier de Burgos. However, he soon resigned and started to work as officer in the Secretaría de la Subdelegación Principal de fomento. He wrote in La Abeja's paper. He was second librarian, director and high librarian in the Biblioteca Nacional, besides being honorary academic of the RAE (1837) and its secretary.

In 1837, he married Tomasa Andrés y Moyano and they had no children.

Guerra de Independencia Española, 1808-1814

Liberal Triennium, 1820-1823

Date of the event: 1820 - 1823