Torquemada, THOMAS DE

Torquemada, THOMAS DE, the first inquisitor-general of Spain, was born at Valladolid in 1420, and died at Avila, 16th September 1498. He became prior of a Dominican monastery at Segovia, and succeeded in persuading Ferdinand and Isabella to crave from the pope the appointment of the 'Holy Office' of the Inquisition (q.v.). Torquemada was appointed its head, and began in 1483 that infamous work which has left his name a by-word for pitiless cruelty. He has given a subject to Longfellow and to Hugo.