[Dato e Iradier]. Spanish politician, born at Corunna on the 12th of August 1856. He graduated in law at the university of Madrid and was elected a deputy in 1884. An undersecretary for the Home Department in 1892, he became minister for the department in 1899, and distinguished himself in the study of social legislation, the fruits of which were special bills regarding accidents, insurance, and women’s labour, in December 1902 he became Minister of Justice, in 1907 mayor of Madrid, then president of the Chamber. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Social and Moral Sciences, June 20, 1905. When in 1913 Señor Maura refused to take power except on conditions unacceptable to the King, Señor Dato, thinking that the Conservative party could not refuse to serve the Crown at a difficult moment, dissented from his chief, carrying with him the majority of his party, which elected him as its leader. He was still in office (1913–15) when the World War broke out, and was responsible for Spain’s declaration of neutrality. He adhered firmly to that policy. Becoming prime minister again in 1917, he faced the great crisis of that summer. In 1920 he resumed office, and it was while prime minister that he was murdered in Madrid on the 8th of March 1921. Señor Dato had great social charm, persuasive talent and an unswerving will under flexible appearances.
