MELENDEZ VALDES, nialtin'dilth v51 dhs, JUAN (1754-1817). A Spanish poet, born at Ribero del Fresno. in Estremadura, March 11, 1754. He studied at Salamanca, and began his poetical career with some compositions in the manner of Lobo, but soon came under the in fluence of the elder Aluratin and other members of the so-called French school of writers. In 1780 he won the prize of the Spanish Academy for an ode. Coming to Madrid in I7S1, 31elendez there enjoyed the favor of the minister and au thor, Jovellanos, who appointed him to a chair at the University of Salamanca. In this intel lectual centre lie became the chief figure of the Salamanca') circle of lyric poets. who played an important part in the regeneration of Spanish production. With his comedy, Las bodos de eunuch°, be won a prize offered by the city of 3Iadrid in 17s4; but the play failed on the stage. The next year lie published his first vol mine of collected poems, which marked a decided improvement over the methods both of contempo raries and of most lyric poets who had written since the siglo de oro. 3Ielendez now entered upon a political career that was to lead to his ruin. At his own request, he was made a judge of the court of Saragossa in 1789; two years later he was promoted to the chancery of Valla dolid; and in 1797 he was given a post at the royal Court. In 1798 Slelendez's constant
friend, Juvellanos, fell from favor and the former was involved in his ruin. Ile was exiled for a while, but in 1802 lie was allowed to settle in Salamanca. He identified himself with the endeavors of the Napoleonic Government in Spain. Serving this cause, he incurred tho hatred which his countrymen felt for the .1 francc smlos, and on several occasions lie nearly lost his life at the hands of the excited populace. With the end of Joseph Bonaparte's rule, he had to leave Spain, and, going into exile in France, he died at Montpellier. Slav 24. 1817. During this last period of exile he prepared a final edition of his lyrics, which did not appear. however, until 1820. Melemlez was one of the few genuine poets that Spain produced dining the decadent period of the eighteenth century. Consult the life of llelendez by Quintana, prefixed to the edition of his poems of 'Madrid (1820). and also pub lished with Quintana's prose works in volume xix, of the Bildiotera de auto es cspa ; and see, also, the edition of his poems in the Bib lioteeu, vol. lxiii.. and E. essay on him in the llerur hispunique, vol. i.