Origins
THE ELIZALDE FAMILY
ELIZALDE: France, Cuba, Paris and Barcelona
Our family’s surname – “Elizalde” – was taken by a French ancestor who fled the country during the War in the Vendée between the supporters of the French Revolution and the counter-revolutionaries between 1793 and 1796.
The first documented genealogical reference dates back to the 18th century. Santiago Elizalde Pradera (1788 – 1852) himself told us that he was born in Oroña, a village near Saint-Jean-de-Luz (France). For reasons unknown, when he was 16 years old, he took the bold decision to set sail for the island of Cuba, ultimately settling in Havana. Within a few years, and by dint of hard work, he had become the owner of a large coffee plantation called “El Destino” in Montes de Oro. In 1846, the business fell foul of the grim cyclone named “San Francisco de Borja” which devastated the plantation, leading Santiago to ultimately abandon it. He later went on to manage the Ingenio Saratoga, near Ceiba Mocha, until his death.
Our family’s surname – “Elizalde” – was taken by a French ancestor who fled the country during the War in the Vendée.
Juan Salvador Elizalde Giraud (1823 – 1899), Arturo Elizalde’s father
Amalia Rouvier Elizalde (1839 – 1891),
Arturo Elizalde’s mother
The first documented genealogical reference dates back to the 18th century. Santiago Elizalde Pradera (1788 – 1852) himself told us that he was born in Oroña, a village near Saint-Jean-de-Luz (France). For reasons unknown, when he was 16 years old, he took the bold decision to set sail for the island of Cuba, ultimately settling in Havana. Within a few years, and by dint of hard work, he had become the owner of a large coffee plantation called “El Destino” in Montes de Oro. In 1846, the business fell foul of the grim cyclone named “San Francisco de Borja” which devastated the plantation, leading Santiago to ultimately abandon it. He later went on to manage the Ingenio Saratoga, near Ceiba Mocha, until his death.
A clipping from the “Diario de la Marina” newspaper (Cuba, 1921)
His children, Juan Salvador –an engineer – and Federico, both of them trained in the latest industrial techniques at L’École National d’Arts et Métiers in Angers (Francia), purchased extensive lands near Macuriges in 1858, where they set up the new “Ingenio azucarero Elizalde” sugar mill using machinery they themselves had designed.
In 1877, after operating there successfully for several years, and in view of the uncertain pre-war situation prevailing on the island, Juan Salvador Elizalde, who lived in Matanzas (Cuba) with his wife Amalia Rouvier and their 6-year-old son Arturo, relocated to Paris, leaving the Ingenio in the hands of an administrator until it was sold in 1892.
Arturo Elizalde Rouvier (1871 – 1925)
From his early childhood, and having settled in Paris at the age of 6 years, Arturo Elizalde received a strict education focusing on science and technology, with private tuition in his primary schooling stage and subsequently by privately-hired professors from theÉcole Breguet for his higher studies in Mathematics, Physics, Mechanics, Chemistry, specialising in Metallography.
In 1889, during the Exposition Universelle of Paris, he met Carmen Biada, whom he would marry in Barcelona five years later. Even as a very young boy, Arturo had felt drawn to automobiles, and became a collaborator and a shareholder in the French Delahaye company. He also obtained one of the first licences for driving motor vehicles in Paris.
From his early childhood, and having settled in Paris at the age of 6 years, Arturo Elizalde received a strict education focusing on science and technology, with private tuition in his primary schooling stage and subsequently by privately-hired professors from theÉcole Breguet for his higher studies in Mathematics, Physics, Mechanics, Chemistry, specialising in Metallography.
Arturo Elizalde with his father, Juan Salvador Elizalde, and his wife, Carmen Biada
In 1889, during the Exposition Universelle of Paris, he met Carmen Biada, whom he would marry in Barcelona five years later. Even as a very young boy, Arturo had felt drawn to automobiles, and became a collaborator and a shareholder in the French Delahaye company. He also obtained one of the first licences for driving motor vehicles in Paris.
Arturo Elizalde Rouvier (1871 – 1925)
Arturo Elizalde Rouvier (1871 – 1925) Without any doubt, his life’s grand project was the creation of an automobile factory in Barcelona, where his wife’s family lived. This dream came true in 1909, when the “J.M. Vallet y Cía” Company was incorporated. In 1910, after purchasing the entire block in Paseo de San Juan, between the streets of Córcega and Rosellón –, where the company’s workshops stood – its name was changed to “Biada, Elizalde y Cía”, and it produced its first motor vehicle in 1914. In 1915, he founded the “Fabrica Española de Automóviles Elizalde” himself and launched the Type 20, whose Cabriolet version was purchased by HRH King Alfonso XIII in 1916.
He was a never-say-die fighter, he never backed down in the face of the adversities of the times, and after several models had been manufactured, the Type 48 “Super cumbre” rolled out of the plant in 1921. This vehicle caused a sensation at the Paris Motor Show that same year on account of its sheer quality, power and size.
In 1925, Arturo Elizalde moved to Paris, intent on focusing his technical expertise on the manufacture of aircraft engines. Unfortunately, and after he had secured the necessary licences to manufacture the Lorraine engines, Arturo passed away unexpectedly at the age of 54. The Elizalde Factory, with a workforce of more than 800, was left without its creator, and the management was taken over by his widow, Ms Carmen Biada.
Carmen Biada Navarro (1875 – 1949)
Carmen Biada’s history is coloured by the unexpected death of her husband, Arturo Elizalde in 1925. At that crucial point in time, Carmen decided to take a new direction, somewhat exceptional in the society of that era, and totally different to what she had been doing until then, namely bringing up her nine children. This decision ultimately obliged her to combine her family obligations with managing the company created by her deceased husband.
Her deep-seated convictions led her to continue her husband’s work, particularly as she was deeply concerned at the uncertain future that would have awaited the workers and their families had she taken the easy way out of selling off the company.
Carmen Biada’s history is coloured by the unexpected death of her husband, Arturo Elizalde in 1925. At that crucial point in time, Carmen decided to take a new direction, somewhat exceptional in the society of that era, and totally different to what she had been doing until then, namely bringing up her nine children. This decision ultimately obliged her to combine her family obligations with managing the company created by her deceased husband.
Carmen Biada Navarro (1875 – 1949)
Her deep-seated convictions led her to continue her husband’s work, particularly as she was deeply concerned at the uncertain future that would have awaited the workers and their families had she taken the easy way out of selling off the company.
Carmen Biada Navarro (1875 – 1949)
Carmen Biada, the great-granddaughter of the developer of the first railway in the Iberian peninsula, took over “Elizalde S.A.” as Chair of the Board of Directors, appointing her children to the Technical and Administrative departments.
In the course of 24 years, until her death, she took charge of modernising the company, promoting research and development into new projects, while also honouring the commitment to manufacture aircraft engines with the Spanish Air Force.
Carmen Biada created and maintained a Social Organisation to help the workers and their sick relatives at a time when the concept of Social Security did not even exist. She also pioneered the introduction of a Professional Training School –the Escuela de Aprendices Elizalde (Elizalde Apprentices School) (E.A.E.) – in our country, which was dedicated to technical training for pupils and new operators and to their ethical and human education.
Carmen Biada’s history is one of love and loyalty to her husband’s ideals and of dedication and devotion to their children, employees and collaborators, who under her guidance became part of a large and closely-knit family.
Family tree
The Elizalde Biada family in Paris
The rear of the Elizalde family home in Rue Murillo 16 (Paris)
The Elizalde Biada family in Paris
On his return from Cuba, Arturo Elizalde and his wife Carmen Biada settled in Paris in a property they owned on Avenue de la Reine Hortensie 23 (now Avenue Hoche). They subsequently moved to Rue Murillo 16, the back of which led onto the Park Monceau. Their nine children were born in Paris: Salvador (1895), Arturo Luis (1898), Carmen (1900), Amalia (1903), Antonio (1904), Rafael (1906), Pedro (1908), Miguel (1910) and María (1912). To provide a comfortable home for his large family, Arturo had a mansion built on Avenue Raphael 12 – the first building made of reinforced concrete in Paris –, a stone’s throw away from the Bois de Boulogne. Work on the house was completed in 1914, just before the outbreak of the Great War.
This building is now home to the United States Embassy, and Arturo Elizalde’s engraved initials can still be seen on the handrail of one of the balconies.
The Château de Corvier
After arriving in France, Juan Salvador Elizalde bought a property with a spread of 1000 ha south of Orléans, nestling in a quiet enclave in the region of Loir-et-Cher, about 150 kilometres south of Paris, which the family used as a second residence. The ancient castle of Corvier stood on the property.
Arturo Elizalde had the château demolished and commissioned the building of a new château – with all the latest comforts –, which was completed in 1910. The Château le Corvier was used by the Elizalde family as a summer residence for virtually half a century.
The Château de Corvier
After arriving in France, Juan Salvador Elizalde bought a property with a spread of 1000 ha south of Orléans, nestling in a quiet enclave in the region of Loir-et-Cher, about 150 kilometres south of Paris, which the family used as a second residence. The ancient castle of Corvier stood on the property.
Arturo Elizalde had the château demolished and commissioned the building of a new château – with all the latest comforts –, which was completed in 1910. The Château le Corvier was used by the Elizalde family as a summer residence for virtually half a century.
La Casa Elizalde
(C/ Valencia 302, 08009 Barcelona)
Casa Elizalde de Barcelona. Family residence built in 1885
La Casa Elizalde
(C/ Valencia 302, 08009 Barcelona)
Arturo Elizalde, who lived between Paris and Barcelona, inherited a small palace built in 1885 and standing on Barcelona’s Valencia Street from his aunt (Josefa Rouvier Elizalde, the widow of Jaurés).
The family used this building as its residence for 70 years, and from 1926 onwards it housed the company’s administration offices. La Casa Elizalde, located in the heart of the Eixample neighbourhood, has been a Cultural Centre of Barcelona City Council since the end of the Eighties.
Its rooms are used to stage a highly varied and dynamic programme of courses, talks, meetings, concerts and exhibitions.
