JOVELLANOS, liorvft-lyit'nos, GASPAR :MEL CHIOR DE ( 1744-1811). A Spanish statesman and author. He was born at Gijon. in ,Asturias, of an ancient Spanish family, and studied at the uni versities of Oviedo, Avila, and Alvah. In 1767 he was made judge of the criminal court of Seville, in 1778 chief justice of the King's Court at Madrid. and in 1780 member of the Council of State. Here he made the acquaintance of Campo manes (q.v.) and other prominent literati of Spain, and became a member of several scientific societies. His connection with the adventurer Cabarrus brought about his banishment to GijOn (1790), where he labored for seven years to pro mote the material and social welfare of his native province. He was restored to favor for a short time and made Minister of Justice, but, because of his enmity to the favorite Godoy, was presently banished once more to Gijon and in 1801 cast into prison, where he remained for seven years.
On the French invasion he was released (1808), and when Joseph Bonaparte became King he was offered the portfolio of the Interior. Declining the office, he joined the Patriotic Party,was chosen a member of the Central Junta, and helped to re organize the Cortes. Stung by the violent opposi tion and hatred he met, Jovellanos retired to Gijon. whence, on the occupation of the town by the French, he escaped to Vega, where he died. He was the author of numerous compositions in prose and verse. Of the latter the most cele brated are the tragedy El Pclayo and the comedy of El dclincucnic honrado. Jovellanos was a man of fine spiritual feeling and versatile genius. His fervent desire to restore his country to its former rank in polities and literature inspired all his actions. and gained him the love of the best ele ments in Spain.