Quintana

Quintana, MANUEL JOSÉ, whose patriotic odes obtained for him the surname of the 'Spanish Tyrtæus,' was born at Madrid, 11th April 1772, studied at Salamanca, and established himself as an advocate in his native city, where his house became a resort of the advanced liberals of the time. Besides his Spanish Plutarch (Vidas de los Españoles Celebres, 1807-34), a work which is reckoned one of the finest Spanish classics, he published one or two tragedies, and an excellent selection of Castilian poetry. On the restoration of Ferdinand VII. in 1814 Quintana's liberalism caused his imprisonment for six years; but he ultimately forsook the liberal cause, held office, and died 11th March 1857.