(5460)

Aurelio González de Gregorio
1st Conde de La Puebla de Valverde
(1863–1942)

Biographical
 
1st Conde de La Puebla de Valverde 1925–42†
Knight of the Order of Montesa 1920
Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Agricultural Merit 1912

Mayor of Soria 1929
President of the Soria Agrarian Chamber 1919
Vice-president of the Soria Agrarian Chamber 1900

Aurelio González de Gregorio was a prominent landowner and influential figure in the province of Soria, recognised for his extensive contributions to agriculture, politics, and social causes. In 1926, he was ranked as one of the largest taxpayers in the province, with vast estates spanning several towns, including Quintana Redonda, La Póveda, and Almarza, as well as owning notable properties such as a manor house in Quintana Redonda, a palace in Hinojosa de la Sierra, and a mansion in central Soria. A key advocate for agrarianism, he was instrumental in founding and leading various agricultural organisations, including the Catholic Agrarian Federation of Osma, the Spanish Agrarian Union, and the Agrarian Defence Board, and served as president of the Provincial Savings Bank around 1925. In recognition of his efforts to promote agriculture, defend public interests, and organise credit and savings, he was granted the title of count in January 1925. Politically, González de Gregorio began as a councillor for the Conservative Party in Soria in 1904, later serving as provincial deputy, mayor during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, and deputy to the Cortes for Almazán in 1919 as an agrarian candidate. He also founded the newspaper Tierra Soriana in 1906 and led the Provincial Agrarian Bloc during the Second Republic. Beyond politics, he was associated with the Numantine Economic Society of Friends of the Country, the Official Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Soria, and the Conferences of Saint Vincent de Paul. Known for his active social life and striking appearance, he was celebrated for his achievements, earning him a reputation as a notable and respected figure in Soria’s history. Aurelio was also interested in archaeology that gained popularity in the early 20th century, forming close friendships with renowned German archaeologists Adolf Schulten and Hoffmann, who were excavating the ruins of Numancia. He and his family frequently visited the site at Cerro de La Muela. He discovered a significant Roman camp near Almazán, located along the ancient road linking Ocilis (Medinaceli) with Numancia, in an area known as Hijar.

Place of birth: Soria
Place of death: Madrid
Place of burial: Convent of the Carmelites, Soria

Son of Pedro González de Gregorio and Micaela Martínez de Azgara, he married Asunción Martínez de Tejada (†1956), and had issue (including María del Pilar, wife of Miguel Lasso de La Vega).

© 2024 The Universal Compendium