José Torrubia


José Torrubia was a Spanish Catholic missionary, scientist and author. As a paleontologist, he was one of the very first religious thinkers to note and admit the existence of fossils as remains of ancient animals.

Biography and works

He was born towards the end of the seventeenth century at Granada, Spain; died in 1768 in the monastery of Aracoeli. He entered the order of St. Peter of Alcántara at Granada.
In the Philippine Islands, whither he had gone as missionary and as secretary to Foguéras, the Spanish colonial commissioner-general of Mexico, he was imprisoned for four months, as a result of opposition on the part of the religious orders to reforms attempted by the commissioner. He returned to Cadiz and thence went to Rome, where he withdrew from the order of St. Peter and became a Franciscan. In 1732 he was again in the Philippine Islands as superior of a convent. He travelled in America and Asia, remaining for a time at Canton, China. In 1750 he returned to Spain, whence he made three trips to Rome.
As linguist, scientist, collector of fossils and of books, writer on historical, political and religious subjects, Torrubia was held in high esteem in Spain and at Rome, and by none more so that by Pope Benedict XIV. Noted scientists made a point of visiting him.

Works