Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo

Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo (4 February 1817, Seville - 3 July 1898, Madrid) was a Spanish lawyer, journalist and politician who served as Minister of Justice under King Alfonso XII.

After studying law in his home town, in 1839 he became Professor of Moral Philosophy, Logic and Grammar at the University of Seville.

In 1853, he was elected a Deputy for the Province of Zaragoza and, in 1864, was named a Senator for life.

He served as Minister of Justice from 1874 to 1875 during the government of Antonio Cánovas and abolished numerous laws that had been enacted during the Sexenio Democrático.

In addition, he was a member of the Real Academia de la Historia and the Real Academia de Ciencias Morales y Políticas; of which he also served as President.