Bernardino Fernández de Velasco, 14th Duke of Frías

The recorded working language is Spanish. Places of work recorded in the authority are Madrid. Positions recorded include Senator of the Kingdom and ambassador of Spain to France. Distinctions recorded are Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, Décoration du Lys and Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Leopold.

• Honorific Prefix — The Most Excellent • Honorific Suffix — 14th Duke of Frías GE • Name — Bernardino Fernández de Velasco • Order — Prime Minister of Spain • Monarch — Isabella II • Term Start — 6 September 1838 • Term End — 9 December 1838 • Predecessor — Narciso Fernández de Heredia • Successor — Evaristo Pérez de Castro • Birth Name — Bernardino Fernández de Velasco-Pacheco y Benavides • Born — 20 July 1783 • Birthplace — Madrid, Spain • Died — 28 May 1851 • Place of death — Madrid, Spain • Party — Realista Moderado • Office2 — Seat L of the Real Academia Española • Term Start2 — 1839 • Term End2 — 28 May 1851 • Predecessor2 — José Gabriel de Silva-Bazán • Successor2 — José Caveda y Nava

Son of the Afrancesado (pro-French) XIII Duke of Frías, Diego Fernández de Velasco, who died in France in 1811, and his wife Francisca de Paula de Benavides de Córdoba. He joined the Walloon Guards around 1796 at the age of just thirteen, becoming a lieutenant at 19, circa 1802. He first participated in the Invasion of Portugal (1807) alongside the French army, but then deserted to join the Spanish resistance during the War of Independence, unlike his father who took part in the commission that drafted the Bayonne Statute. As Lieutenant Colonel, he participated between November 1808 and May 1812 in different campaigns and actions of the war, for which he received the Cross of San Fernando, the Cross of Talavera and other decorations. Upon the return of King Ferdinand VII, in 1814 and already with the rank of Colonel, he advocated that the Monarch swear the oath of the Spanish Constitution of 1812. This was a position that excluded him from the following meetings which led to the return of the Absolute regime. He returned to active political life in 1820 with the Liberal Triennium. He was a member of the moderate group of the Anilleros and became Spanish Ambassador in London (1820–21) and a State Councilor. With the restoration of absolutism in 1823, he had to go into exile in Montpellier, until he could return to Spain in 1828. He was a member of the Estamento de Próceres in the Cortes from 1834 to 1836. Francisco Martínez de la Rosa sent him to Paris to obtain French support during the First Carlist War, intervening in the negotiations for the signing of the 1834 Quadruple Alliance and the dispatch of the French Foreign Legion. In 1838 he was elected senator for León. On 6 September of that year he was named President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister), replacing Narciso Heredia, Count of Ofalia. He unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the European Absolutist powers (Austria, Prussia and Russia) to withdraw their support for the Carlists, who were fighting in favor of Fernando VII's brother, Carlos María Isidro. In domestic politics, his attempts at reconciliation immediately clashed with the interests of the various political factions and the army. He was overwhelmed by the struggle for power between Ramón María Narváez and Baldomero Espartero. Although he managed to control the insurrection of Luis Fernández de Córdova in Seville, he was unable to face the opposition in the Cortes and was forced to resign on 8 December 1838. In 1845 he returned to political activity as a senator for life, although he devoted his time to literature, joining the Royal Spanish Academy in 1847. As a lyrical poet of moderate importance, he followed in the footsteps of Juan Nicasio Gallego, with whom he had a close friendship. The academy published his Poetic Works in 1857, with a prologue by the Duke of Rivas and a biographical and critical study by Mariano Roca de Togores.

The Duke of Frías married three times: • in 1802 with María Ana de Silva Bazán y Waldstein (1787–1805), daughter of José Joaquín de Silva-Bazán, no issue • in 1811 with María de la Piedad Roca de Togores Valcárcel (1787–1830), daughter of the Count of Pinohermoso, one daughter: • Bernardina María Fernández de Velasco Pacheco Téllez-Girón y Roca de Togores (1815–1869), X Duchess of Uceda • in 1839 with Ana de Jaspe y Macías, after the birth of their 3 children: • Ana Valentina Fernández de Velasco (1833–1852), XI Countess of Peñaranda de Bracamonte • José María Fernández de Velasco y Jaspe (1836–1888), XV Duke of Frías • Mencia Fernández de Velasco.

Bernardino Fernández de Velasco, 14th Duke of Frías was recorded at birth as Bernardino Fernández de Velasco y Benavides. His recorded language was Spanish. He was the child of Diego Pacheco Téllez-Girón Gómez de Sandoval and Francisca de Paula de Benavides y Fernández de Córdoba. 2 children are recorded: Doña Bernardina Fernandez de Velasco Pacheco, 10.Duquesa de Uceda, 15.Marquesa de Jarandilla and José Bernardino Fernández de Velasco.

Recorded positions include Senator of the Kingdom, ambassador of Spain to France, ambassador of Spain to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of State of Spain. He belonged to Royal Spanish Academy. He worked at Madrid.

Bernardino Fernández de Velasco, 14th Duke of Frías is recorded with the occupation military personnel. Recorded as diplomat, politician, writer, minister and poet.