Fernando de la Puente y Primo de Rivera

Doctor Fernando de la Puente y Primo de Rivera (28 August 1808 – 12 March 1867) was a Spanish cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was appointed by Pope Pius IX in 1861. He served as the Bishop of Salamanca from 1852 to 1857, the Archbishop of Burgos from 1857 to 1867, and as the Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria della Pace from 1862 to 1867.

Early life

Fernando de la Puente y Primo de Rivera was born on 28 August 1808 in Cádiz, Spain. At age twelve, he was orphaned and later studied at a school in England. He received his Doctorate in theology in 1839 and began teaching both theology and English at the university.

Episcopal career

He served as the parish priest of San Miguel in Sevilla from 1841 until 1847, when he was appointed as auditor of the Tribunal de la Rota in Madrid. On 27 September 1852, he was proclaimed as Bishop of Salamanca, and was consecrated on 19 December 1852 by Giovanni Brunelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to Spain.

On 25 September 1857, Puente y Primo de Rivera was proclaimed as Archbishop of Burgos. He consecrated Juan Nepomuceno Garcia Gómez as Bishop of Coria in 1858. On 27 September 1861, he was made a cardinal by Pope Pius IX. On 21 May 1862, he was appointed as the Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria della Pace in Rome. He attended the canonization of 26 Martyrs of Japan on 8 June 1862. In 1864, he was selected by Queen Isabella II of Spain to be the moral and religious teacher of Prince Alfonso, however, he was relieved of his position by Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris for presenting an exposition against the recognition of Victor Emmanuel II as King of Italy.

Death

Puente y Primo de Rivera died on 12 March 1867 in Madrid, Spain, aged 58.