Pedro Duro Benito (1810–1886) was an important Spanish businessman of the 19th century;[1] founder of the industrial group Duro Felguera and a pioneer of ironworking in Spain.
Pedro Duro | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by Juan de Barroeta | |
| Born | Pedro Duro Benito 5 December 1810 |
| Died | 11 March 1886 (aged 75) |
| Resting place | La Felguera |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse | Dolores Ortiz |
| Children | Pilar Duro |
Biography
editDuro was born in Brieva de Cameros, La Rioja,[2] and he died in the Principality of Asturias in 1886. He began construction on the Felguera Factory in 1857; a metallurgical factory that became the most important in Spain in the 19th century, and through the 20th century until the 1960s. It was the first major ironworks that were constructed in Spain. His descendants were created Marquesses of La Felguera by King Alfonso XIII. In addition, Duro was awarded the Order of Isabella the Catholic and the Légion d'honneur from the French government. He was buried in La Felguera, where the workers of his factory raised a big monument. He was also a pioneer in social measures for workers. His work motivated, in addition, industrial expansion in the north of Spain. Today the company that he created is called "Duro Felguera" and it has been traded on the Spanish stock exchange since 1902.[3]
Further reading
edit- Francisco Palacios, Pedro Duro, un capitán de la industria española, Grupo Duro Felguera, 2008 ISBN 84-612-8381-3
- Germán Ojeda, Duro Felguera, Historia de una gran empresa industrial, Grupo Duro Felguera, 2000 ISBN 84-8459-035-6
References
edit- ^ Brief biography @ Asociación "Langreanos en el Mundo"
- ^ Brief biography @ Valvanera.
- ^ [1] Duro Felguera website.