Jose Monino Florida Blanca, count of, a Spanish statesman, born in Murcia about 1728, died in Seville, Nov. 20, 1808. His family was noble, but poor. He became an advocate, was appointed fiscal to the tribunal of the council of Castile, and made a report on the suppression of the Jesuits, which led to his appointment as ambassador to Rome. In 1777 he became premier to Charles III. In his administration of 15 years he built extensive roads, canals, bridges, and conduits; created more than 60 agricultural societies and numerous philanthropic institutions; founded the national bank of St. Charles, and the Spanish company of the Philippines; made treaties of commerce with the Porte, and concluded a treaty with Portugal which quieted the disputes about the South American colonies, and treaties with the emperor of Morocco and Hy-der Ali; sought to avert the war against Spain by England in 1778, and made its burdens lighter on the people than those of any previous one of equal duration; made a treaty with Tripoli; punished the Algerine pirates; opened the trade with America to the world; reduced direct taxes and imposts; and introduced great and valuable reforms in the administration of justice.

In 1792, after having been for three years the premier of the imbecile Charles IV., he was imprisoned in the castle of Pamplona, where but for his brother he would have perished from starvation. He was at length permitted to retire to Murcia. When the Spaniards rose against Napoleon in 1808 he was called to the presidency of the central junta of the kingdom, but soon sank under his onerous duties. Among his published works are: Respuesta fiscal sobre la libre disposition patronato y protection inme-diato de S. M. en los bienes ocupados a los Jesuitas (Madrid, 1768), and Juicio impartial sobre las letras en forma de breve publicadas por la curia romana, etc. (l768-'9).