Biography.guide
Home › People › Catholic priest › José Cos y Macho
Portrait of José Cos y Macho

José Cos y Macho

1838 – 1919

Catholic cardinal

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About José Cos y Macho

Lived 1838 – 1919 (aged 81). José Cos y Macho was a Spanish catholic priest and catholic bishop.

José María Justo Cos y Macho (6 August 1838 – 17 December 1919) was a Spanish Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Valladolid from 1901 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.

Biography José Cos was born in Terán, Cabuérniga, Cantabria, and baptized in the parish of Santa Eulalia three days later, on 9 August 1838. He studied at the Jesuit School in Segura, Seminary of Monte Corbán in Santander, and the University of Salamanca, where he obtained his doctorate in theology. Cos was ordained to the priesthood in September 1862, and finished his studies in 1864. He taught at the Conciliar Seminary of Santander from 1862 to 1865, and became a canon magister of the Cathedral of Oviedo in 1865. He was named secretary to Bishop Sebastián Espinosa de los Monteros in 1882, and archdeacon of the cathedral chapter of Córdoba in 1884, which he later exchanged for the post of canon maestreescuela of the cathedral chapter of Oviedo.

On 10 June 1886 Cos was appointed Bishop of Mondoñedo by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 12 September from Archbishop Victoriano Guisasola y Rodríguez, with Bishops Ramón Martínez Vigil, OP, and José Mazarrasa y Rivas serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of Oviedo. Cos was promoted to Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba on 14 February 1889 and served as a senator of the Spanish Kingdom from 1891 until his death. He was later named Bishop of Madrid-Alcalá (with the personal title of "Archbishop") on 11 June 1892, and Archbishop of Valladolid on 18 April 1901.

Pope Pius X created him Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria del Popolo in the consistory of 27 November 1911. Cos was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1914 papal conclave, which selected Pope Benedict XV. Between the death of Joaquín Beltrán y Asensio on 3 November 1917 and the appointment of Enrique Pla y Deniel on 4 December 1918, he served as Apostolic Administrator of Ávila.

Cardinal Cos died from bronchopneumonia in Valladolid, at the age of 81. He is buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Valladolid.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Salamanca
Positions held
Cardinal priest, Bishop of Mondoñedo, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Valladolid, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba
Also known as
Jose Cos y Macho, José María Cardinal Cos y Macho

People in José Cos y Macho's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped José Cos y Macho's

Frequently asked questions

Who was José Cos y Macho?

Catholic cardinal (1838–1919)

When was José Cos y Macho born?

José Cos y Macho was born on 6 August 1838 in Terán.

When did José Cos y Macho die?

José Cos y Macho died on 17 December 1919 in Valladolid.

What was José Cos y Macho's occupation?

José Cos y Macho was a catholic priest and catholic bishop.

What nationality was José Cos y Macho?

José Cos y Macho was Spanish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: José Cos y Macho

· Wikidata: Q950259

· DBpedia: José Cos y Macho

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). José Cos y Macho. https://biography.guide/jose-cos-y-macho/

MLA: "José Cos y Macho." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jose-cos-y-macho/.

Chicago: "José Cos y Macho." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jose-cos-y-macho/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:34 UTC