José Luis Blasio y Prieto (1842 – September 5, 1923, in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

) was private secretary to Emperor

Maximilian I of Mexico Maximilian I (; ; 6 July 1832 – 19 June 1867) was an Austrian Empire, Austrian archduke who became Emperor of Mexico, emperor of the Second Mexican Empire from 10 April 1864 until his execution by the Restored Republic (Mexico), Mexican Republ ...

from 1865 to 1867. He published the book ''Maximiliano Íntimo'' (Intimate Maximilian) in 1905, based on his experiences during his service to the second Emperor of Mexico.

Early years

He was the second son of Agustín de la Peza and Luisa Blasio. He attended private schools as a child and also went to ''Colegio Nacional de Minería'' (National College of Mining) but did not complete his studies because of the death of his father. He also attended ''Escuela de Comercio'' (Business School).

Private secretary to Maximilian I of Mexico

Before meeting the second Emperor of Mexico (and because of his fluency in the French language), Blasio served as interpreter to engineer Felix Eloin who was close to the emperor. After Eloin left Mexico, Commander Loysel became Blasio's boss. At this time, he was ordered to personally deliver some documents to the emperor (at the time in

Veracruz Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entit ...

), and upon arrival was invited to rest for a few days. During this brief stay, Maximiliano's then secretary, Austrian Nicolás de Poliakóvitz, broke his arm while horseriding, this led the emperor replacing Poliakovitz with the young Blasio. Blasio kept this position until the death of the emperor in 1867.

Railways of Mexico

Blasio worked as a bookkeeper for ''Ferrocarriles de México'' (Railways of Mexico), the company from which he retired, and received a medal after 50 years of service to the company.

Maximiliano Íntimo

After his retirement from ''Ferrocarriles de Mexico'' Blasio devoted his time to writing a book, in which he related his experiences as the emperor's personal secretary.

Personal life

His wife was Adela Yglesias Guerra; they never had children. After the death of his wife, Blasio lived his remaining years with his wife's sister. He died on September 5, 1923, in the Colegio Militar #11,

Tacubaya Tacubaya is a Poverty in Mexico, working-class area of Mexico City in the borough of Miguel Hidalgo, D.F., Miguel Hidalgo. The ''colonia (Mexico), colonia'' Tacubaya and adjacent areas in other colonias are collectively referred to as Tacubaya. ...

, in Mexico City.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blasio, Jose Luis 19th-century Mexican people 19th century in Mexico Mexican male writers People from Mexico City 1842 births 1923 deaths