ELGUERO, FRANCISCO

Mexican lawyer and literary figure; b. Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, March 14, 1856; d. there, Dec. 17, 1932. He was noted in his legal profession for his devotion to law and justice. Elguero was well read in contemporary thought, especially in philosophy, literary criticism, and the sacred sciences. As a writer on both legal and general topics, he was a staunch defender of the Catholic faith. Above all he was an apologist, as a lecturer, journalist, and author. Elguero linked the defense of Catholicism with the defense of Spanish civilization and held that the purity of the Castilian language was of primary importance because it was the means of transmitting that civilization. He based his opposition to the anti-Catholic laws and institutions of the persecution on a thorough knowledge of Mexican history and published accounts of the arbitrary acts of the various liberal governments Mexico had had. When the revolution of Carranza was successful, Elguero lived in exile in Cuba, where he wrote a series of apologetic articles for El Diario de la Marina. On his return to Mexico City, he founded the review América española, which stressed Spain's greatness and the Spanish character of Mexican civilization in law, theology, philosophy, and literature. He was a delegate and one of the leaders of the Catholic group in the Madero legislature. A prolific writer, he cultivated all genres—essay, novel, poetry, and oratory. Among his books were La inmaculada (Mexico City 1905), Senilias poéticas (Havana 1920), Comentarios a pensamientos religiosos de Luis Veillot (Mexico City 1924), and Museo intelectual (2 v. Mexico City 1930). He also left many unpublished writings. Elguero was a corresponding member of the Academia Mexicana.

[j. guisa y. azevedo]