Fermín Abella y Blave
Fermín Abella y Blave (1832–1888) was a Spanish jurist, writer, editor and civil servant. Early life and education. He was born in Pedrola, in the Province of Zaragoza, Spain, on 7 July 1832 to Joaquín Abella y Pallarés and Francisca Blave Goser. His father was a judge of first instance in Pina de Ebro, executed by Carlist partisans during the Carlist Wars for his service to the monarch. Upon Isabella II's restoration, the Queen granted the young Fermín an orphan's annuity of 5500 Reales on 10 August 1840. Abella y Blave studied law at  the University of Zaragoza where, even as an undergraduate, he was soon entrusted with substitute teaching of Roman law. He obtained his bachelor's degree in civil and canon law on 28 August 1854 and joined the city's Bar Association the same year. Civil Service Career. In 1856 Abella y Blave entered the civil service as a junior official at Zaragoza's Public Works administration, in the department responsible for waters. His work there made him realize the necessity of a central repository of all relevant legislation for the benefit of administration and citizens alike, resulting in the publication  of his first small volume ""Manual de Aguas y Riegos""("Manual of waters and irrigation")in 1861. He slowly progressed through the ranks, acquiring a reputation for competence that, coupled with his close friendship with Juan Cavero, newly appointed Governor of Córdoba, eventually led him to be appointed Government Secretary for said province in 1864. An appointment to the same position in Huesca followed and shortly after he was made subgovernor for the municipality of Reus and the Island of Menorca. In 1867 he was transferred to the provincial government of Madrid as Head of Administration and in July of the same  year was promoted to Head of Administration, 2nd class, at the central government's Overseas Ministry. He resigned his position at the outbreak of the revolution in October 1868. Author and Editor. Removed from his administrative tasks, Abella y Blave concentrated his mind in a different direction. From the beginning of his career, he had published a variety of works on matters of civil law and administration. On 29 March 1868 he had taken on the editorship of the journal "El Consultor de los Ayuntamientos y de los Juzgados Municipales" (Consultant of the municipalities and municipal courts, founded by Marcelo  Martínez Alcubilla in 1851) replacing Celestino Mas y Abad and Eusebio Freixa y Rabasó. By January 1869, he became its director and sole proprietor. He subsequently founded and directed other periodicals such as "El Boletín de la Administración Local, Pósitos y Juzgados Municipales" (The Local Administrationm Cereal Deposit and Municipal Courts' Bulletin) and "El Consultor de los Parrocos" (the Parish Priests' consultant) in 1872. Royal Household. In 1875, the newly proclaimed king Alfonso XII appoints Abella y Blave Secretary of the Intendancy of the Royal Household and Properties. During his tenancy he was entrusted with temporary substitution of the Royal  Head Librarian (Manuel Remón Zarco del Valle) and the General Intendant of the Royal Household and Properties (Bonifacio Cortés Llanos) in periods of the formers' absence. Upon Cortés Llanos' retirement in December 1885, Abella y Blave was promoted to General Intendant and remained in post until his death in 1888. Works. Abella y Blave was also a prolific author on a vast variety of legal topics. His necrology mentions a legacy of more than 60 books, some of which became standard works, such as his "Manual teórico práctico de los Juzgados Municipales" (theoretical and practical manual of municipal law courts ). Other works included: