Manuel Durán y Bas

As a renowned advocate, he represented the interests of the preeminent Catalan families and served on the boards of many academic and commercial institutions.

In 1863, Durán y Bas was elected as a member of the Spanish Congress for the province of Barcelona and obtained reelection in 1865, 1879 and 1884.

From March 4 to October 25, 1899, he served as Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Francisco Silvela.

Although politically opposed to the unifying codification of Spanish law, he was a leading contributor to the 1888 Código civil.

By compiling a list of the institutions of Catalan law that would continue to apply as exceptions under the new Civil Code, he helped to preserve the wealth and influence of Catalonia's leading families, whose advocate he was.