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Spanish physician, neurologist, medical writer, philosopher and politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José María Albiñana (13 October 1883 – 23 August 1936) was a Spanish physician, eugenicist, neurologist, medical writer, philosopher and anti-republican right-wing politician.[1]
Born in Enguera, Valencia, he was a Doctor of Medicine specialising in mental health. He was also a doctor in law and philosophy and with Delgado Barreto founded the Partido Nacionalista Español.
Albiñanawas an academic of the Real Academia Nacional de Medicina of Spain where he was awarded for his work in medical philosophy Concepto actual de la Filosofía médica y su valor en el desarrollo de la Medicina.
Albiñana founded the newspaper La Sanidad Civil in order to vindicate the rights of medical professionals, and was funded by the state. In 1920 he was elected to the chair of History of Medicine at the University of Alcala but without success and later distanced himself from university life. From his early 20s he began publishing medical literature and philosophy. His notable works of his first 20 years in the profession are shown below in his published works. Albiñana later became a supporter of eugenics.[2]
In the 1920s, Albiñana continued his activity in Mexico, in the Mexican capital, where he established his own clinic. He became acquainted with the Hispanic-American way of life and attended many conferences, publishing a multitude of new works and three autobiographical novels: Sol de Levante (Gerardo Sisniega, México, 1923), Aventuras Tropicales. En busca del oro verde (Madrid, 1928) and Bajo el cielo mejicano (Cía. Ibero-Americana de Publicaciones Madrid, 1930).
Albiñana's time in Mexico was marred by political unrest and violence. Madero had been assassinated in 1913, Emiliano Zapata in 1919, Pancho Villa in 1923 and Carranza in 1920. Farmer revolts, coup d'etats and crime became the political norm. Obregón was assassinated in 1928 and the Cristero War broke out with the cristeros representing the aspiration of the Mexican Catholics. Such was the mistrust of foreigners during this period, that Albinana was later expelled from the country under Plutarco Elías Calles[3]
Albiñana returned to Spain in Burgos where he was later elected as its delegate in 1934, and reelected in 1936, although by this time his Valencian accent had become mixed with a Mexican accent causing some suspicion. Over time he gained the trust of the people in Burgos, catering to the needs of the neighbourhoods and readily answering questions. He brought about a number of infrastructural developments in Burgos including the legal work for the Compañía de Aguas de Burgos (Burgos Water Company), installation of the telephone in Villarcayo and Medina de Pomar, and the installation and creation of Burgos Airport, securing important subsidies and investors to develop the region.
Albiñana was murdered along with other prominent politicians by militia men during the Cárcel Modelo massacre. With the triumph of the Nationalist faction, streets in several localities, mainly in his native Valencia, were dedicated to him.
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