Palacio de la Magdalena built between 1908 -1912. the Bourbon monarchs who were
determined to promote trade through the city’s port, which had exceptional natural resources: the port, the maritime vocation, and the memory of other times in which economic prosperity was splendid. This growth was not only due to the favourable intervention of the State, but also to the efforts of its natives, immigrants from Cantabria and
other Spanish regions, some
foreigners and groups of merchants and traders from all over the world. The role of immigration was essential in the development of the city and was reflected in the urban expansion to the east of the city, on land reclaimed from the sea, considered the first Ensanche. Another cause
of Santander’s take-
off was the opening of the port for overseas trade, first partially in 1765 and then fully in 1778; moreover, in 1786 the “Consulado de Mar y Tierra de la Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santander” (Sea and Land Consulate of the Very Noble and Very
Loyal City of Santander) was founded. All these factors contributed to the prosperity of the city and the growth of its population. In the 18th century, commercial capitalism developed in Santander, but industrial capitalism did not take root. It should also be noted that the Bishopric of Santander was founded in 1754, and in 1755 King Fernando VI granted it the title of city. However, from 1793 onwards, suffered
Santander the collapse of
colonial trade due to the wars first with France and then with England, and lost population. This crisis lasted until the first decades of the 19th century, coinciding with the War of Independence and the loss of the Spanish colonial empire. From 1820 onwards, trade was revived thanks to state policy that favoured the port of Santander, which was to monopolise flour exports to the West Indies until its loss in 1898. In return, large quantities of sugar, cocoa, tobacco, cotton, coffee, sugar cane brandy,
cod and other colonial products arrived at the port. Population growth also continued, and a second urban expansion of the city was carried out. In 1852, the railway from Alar to Santander was inaugurated to increase traffic with Castile. It is important to highlight the founding of the Banco Santander in 1857; from its origins it was a bank open to the outside world, initially linked to trade between the port of Santander and Latin America, and therefore contributed to the development of financial capital, today it is one of the most important banks in the world. On the other hand, flour, sugar and beer factories were created, as well as the San Martín shipyards. At this time, great interest was generated in the exploitation of minerals. At the beginning, extraction was carried out with Santander capital, but at the end of the century, foreign companies took possession of the mineral wealth. The Santander bourgeoisie missed the
Continued on pg 20 May 2022 ❘ 19
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