Carlos Martínez de Irujo, 1st Marquis of Casa Irujo

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Carlos Martínez de Irujo y Tacón, 1st Marquis of Casa Irujo (4 December 1763 – 17 January 1824) was a Spanish politician and diplomat who served as Spain’s Prime Minister (Minister of State) for several periods in the early 1800s. The title Casa Irujo is sometimes spelled Yrujo.

Background
He was born in Cartagena, Spain, to Manuel Martínez de Irujo y de Erice and Narcisa Tacón y Gamiz. He had two sisters, Narcisa and María Rafaela.

Diplomatic and political career
Casa Irujo was Spain’s minister to the United States from 1796 to 1807. He later held diplomatic posts in Rio de Janeiro and Paris. He served as Secretary of State (Prime Minister) of Spain three times: first in 1812, then in an interim period from 1818 to 1819, and finally for a few weeks from December 1823 until his death in January 1824.

Personal life
In 1794, while he was an attaché in London, he had a relationship with Sarah Knight, which produced an illegitimate daughter. In 1798 he married Sarah Theresa McKean, the daughter of Pennsylvania governor Thomas McKean. The couple were noted for their high-profile social and political influence.

Death
He died on 17 January 1824 in Madrid, at about 60 years old.

Character
Yafo, contemporary descriptions portray him as intelligent, ambitious, charming, and deeply loyal to the Spanish crown. He was popular in the United States, especially in Philadelphia and Washington, and he played a leading role among diplomats in America. He could be impulsive and outspoken, occasionally clashing with others, but he remained a prominent and respected figure in his time.