Manuel Rico y Sinobas

Description

Manuel Rico y Sinobas (Valladolid, 1819-Madrid, 1898). He studied secondary education at the Royal Academy of Mathematics and Fine Arts of the Immaculate Conception in Valladolid. He continued his education at the faculties of Science and Medicine in Valladolid and Madrid. He qualified in Science, and in Medicine and Surgery, between 1836 and 1844. In his home town he was a professor of Trigonometry, Algebraic Geometry and Conic Sections at the Royal Academy of Mathematics and Noble Arts of the Immaculate Conception of Valladolid; he also worked as a professor at the University of Valladolid, first as interim professor of Experimental Physics, Chemistry and Geography and then as professor of Physics from 1847. He collaborated with the recently inaugurated Museum of Sculpture and Painting in Valladolid. During these years he divided his time between Valladolid and Madrid. He stood out for his meteorological observations and studies, which earned him a place at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences in Madrid in 1852.

In addition to his teaching and research work, throughout his life he had a keen interest in collecting books and manuscripts. As far as books were concerned, he amassed 1138 copies, works dating from the 14th to the 19th century. The bulk of his collection was acquired by the State in 1901. His collection of maps, plans and atlases was acquired by the ‘Depósito de Guerra’ in 1901, the predecessor of the Army Geographical Centre. An extraordinary collection, made up of 2416 maps and plans, as well as 179 atlases. He also donated other collections to the National Pedagogical Museum in Madrid. Likewise, the result of this bibliophile curiosity were his critical editions of the Books of the Knowledge of Astronomy of King Alfonso X of Castile, among others (Real Academia de la Historia. Historia Hispánica).

Bibliography

• GONZÁLEZ NEGRO, Irene (coord.) (2003): Manuel Rico y Sinobas (Valladolid 1819-Madrid 1898): Una memoria recuperada, Junta de Castilla y León. Conserjería de Cultura.
• RICO Y SINOBAS, Manuel (1858): Discurso que sobre los fenómenos de electricidad atmosférica que leyó el Sr. D. Manuel Rico y Sinobas en su recepción como académico de la Real Academia de Ciencias, Real Academia de Ciencias, Madrid.