Francisco Silvela

Francisco Silvela y Le Vielleuze (15 December 1843, in Madrid – 29 May 1905, in Madrid ) was a Spanish politician who became Prime Minister of Spain on 3 May 1899, succeeding Práxedes Mateo Sagasta. He served in this capacity until 22 October 1900. Silvela also served a second term from 6 December 1902 to 20 July 1903, in which he succeeded another one of Práxedes Mateo Sagasta's many separate terms as prime minister.

Francisco Silvela belonged to the Conservative Party led by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo. He was a Deputy in Parliament continuously from 1876 to 1903, mostly representing Ávila, but for one term he served Pontevedra. He became leader of the Party after the assassination of Cánovas in 1897. His government concluded the German–Spanish Treaty (1899), selling the remainder of the Spanish East Indies.

Silvela named the general Arsenio Linares y Pombo, who had fought in the Spanish–American War, Minister of War in 1900. He withdrew from politics in 1903 and appointed Antonio Maura as his successor. He died in Madrid in 1905.

Silvela was elected to seat K of the Real Academia Española, he took up his seat on 30 April 1893. their children were Jorge and Tomas.