Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo

Spanish educator, philosopher and author of novels, poetry and plays who had great influence in 20th century Spain. Educated at the University of Madrid, he became a professor of Greek at the University of Salamanca, 1891-1901, at which time he became the Rector. In 1914 he was forced into retirement because of his attack on the government of King Alfonso XIII. Unamuno was exiled in 1924 to the Canary Islands because of his attack on the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera. He returned in 1930 to his post as rector of Salamanca.

He was an early existentialist who concerned himself largely with the tension between intellect and emotion, faith and reason. Man's "hunger for immortality" is, he held, constantly denied by reason and can only be satisfied by faith, and the resulting tension results in unceasing agony. His major works include, ""The Live of Don Quixote and Sancho" in 1927, "Mist " in 1928, "The Agonies of Christianity" in 1928 and "Three Exemplary Novels and a Prologue" in 1930. He is also noted for two plays and further philosophical works.

Unamuno died in Salamanca, on 3 December 1936.