The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Second Republic
Juan Negrín (1892–1956): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 3 February 1892, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
|---|---|
| Died | 12 November 1956, Paris |
| Key offices | Minister of Finance (September 1936); Prime Minister (17 May 1937 – March 1939) |
| Documents bearing his name | Government decrees, letters and documents of the Republican government and of the exile |
| In the collection | See current pieces in the collection |
Juan Negrín was a distinguished physiologist who led the Spanish Republic through the hardest years of the Civil War. His government’s decisions, including the transfer of the Bank of Spain’s gold to the USSR, remain among the most debated of the war.
Who Was Juan Negrín?
Negrín was born in Las Palmas in 1892, studied in Leipzig and obtained a chair of physiology at the University of Madrid in 1922. He became finance minister in September 1936 and ordered much of the Bank of Spain’s gold to be sent to the USSR. On 17 May 1937 he became prime minister, moved the government to Barcelona in October 1937 and in 1938 proposed a negotiated peace on the basis of a thirteen-point programme.
What Documents Bear Negrín’s Signature?
His signature appears on government decrees, letters and documents of the Republican government and of the exile. Heads of state and senior officials did not sign everything issued in their name: printed and stamped facsimiles, secretarial signatures and signatures “by order” are common on routine documents. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Government documents date from 1936 to 1939.
- Exile documents form a separate group.
- Typed copies are common.
Exile
In March 1939 the coup of Colonel Casado removed his government, and on 6 March he left Spain by air. In exile he organised the Servicio de Emigración para Republicanos Españoles. He died in Paris in 1956, and the PSOE posthumously rehabilitated him in 2008.
Collector’s Note
Negrín’s reputation has changed greatly over the decades. I let the documents and the sources speak.
Related Entries and Pieces
Pieces in the Collection
Browse current pieces related to Juan Negrín in the Autographs & Militaria collection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Negrín prime minister?
From 17 May 1937 until March 1939.
What was Negrín’s profession?
He was a physiologist and professor at the University of Madrid.
Where did Negrín die?
In Paris, on 12 November 1956.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology.
References & Further Reading
- Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, Juan Negrín López.
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Juan Negrín López (1892–1956).