JOVELLANOS (JOVE LLANOS), GASPAR MELCHOR DE (1744-1811), Spanish statesman and author, born at Gijon (Asturias) on Jan. 5, 1744. Criminal judge at Seville in 1767, judge in Madrid (1778) and a member of the council of military orders (1780), he was involved in the fall of Cabarrus, and banished (1790-97) to Gijon. Recalled in 1797, he was named minister of grace and justice under Godoy, whose policy and con duct so offended his proud integrity that he combined with his colleague Saavedra to procure Godoy's dismissal. On the latter's return to power (1798), Jovellanos was banished to Gijon and imprisoned (i8oi) in Majorca. The revolution of 1808 set him at liberty. Disdaining the most brilliant offers from Joseph Bonaparte, Jovellanos joined the central junta and contributed to reorganize the cortes. This accomplished, the junta at once fell under suspicion, and Jovellanos was involved in its fall. He died at Vega (Asturias) on Nov. 27, 1811.
The poetical works of Jovellanos comprise a tragedy, El Pelayo, a comedy, El delincuente honrado, satires, miscellaneous pieces and a translation of the first book of Paradise Lost. His prose works, especially those on political and legislative economy, constitute his real title to literary fame. In them depth of thought and clear-sighted sagacity are couched in a certain Ciceronian elegance and classical purity of style. Perhaps the Inforine sobre un proyecto de ley agraria (1787) is his most valuable work.
See Obras publicadas a ineditas, ed. C. Nocedal, 2 vol. (Bib. de Autores Esp., xlvi., 1.) ; Memorias politicas (18o1 Fr. trs., 1825) ; J. Somoza de Montsoriu, Jovellanos; nuevos datos para su biografia (Habana-Madrid, 1885) ; E. Gonzalez Blanco, Jovellanos . . . (191I) ; J. Somoza Documentos para . . . la bio grafia de Jovellanos (1911, 2 V01.).