(By our special correspondent at the Huelva Gazette)
It is with deep regret that we report the death of His Majesty King Alfonso XII, who passed away on the 25th of November at El Pardo, aged twenty-seven. The intelligence of his decease has been received with widespread sorrow throughout the realm, and nowhere more so than here in Huelva, where his name is held in affectionate remembrance.
Born in Madrid on the 28th of November, 1857, His Majesty was the eldest son of Queen Isabella II. Following the revolution of 1868, the royal family withdrew from Spain, and the young prince received his education abroad, notably in Vienna and later at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst. He returned to Spain under the auspices of the Restoration in 1874, assuming the throne during a period of considerable turmoil.
During his reign, King Alfonso endeavoured to restore stability and constitutional order to a country long divided by political factions and civil discord. His conduct during the Carlist conflict and the cholera epidemic of 1884 earned him the esteem of both supporters and critics. Despite two attempts on his life, he carried out his duties with composure and was widely regarded as a monarch of moderation, intelligence, and personal dignity.
To the people of Huelva, His Majesty’s reign holds particular significance. In 1876, he conferred upon the town the title of city, in recognition of its commercial growth and industrious spirit. Some years later, he honoured the province with a royal visit—believed to be the first in many centuries—during which he inspected the mines of Rio Tinto, visited the city, and conversed with local and foreign dignitaries. His interest in the industrial and human aspects of the province left a lasting impression on all who had occasion to witness it.
That interest was further reflected in 1884, when His Majesty bestowed upon Mr Hugh M. Matheson the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabel la Católica—an honour rarely awarded beyond Spain’s borders, and one which was accepted here as a signal mark of favour towards the British community.
King Alfonso leaves behind his consort, Queen Maria Christina of Austria, and two daughters. His passing is a grievous loss to the nation. In Huelva, it is felt not only as the death of a sovereign, but as the departure of one who had taken a genuine and visible interest in our affairs.
May he rest in peace.
