100 years at the service of society

In 2021 it is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ignacio Hernando de Larramendi y Montiano, and 20 years since his death.

He was the instigator of the foundations that would later become today’s Fundación MAPFRE.

He was a founder of MAPFRE, the architect of modern insurance, and a champion of humanism in both business and life.

Ignacio de Larramendi had many notable qualities: independence of thought and action, a sense of ethics that he applied to both his personal and professional life, and a love for the history and culture of his country, among many others.

A lawyer, businessman, patron of culture, essayist and writer, Ignacio Hernando de Larramendi y Montiano, more widely known professionally as Ignacio Larramendi, was a fervent exponent of culture in general and Spanish culture in particular

To commemorate the centenary of his birth, during the course of 2021 there will be a number of events centered around him in relation to his professional activities, his intellectual and cultural facet, and his projects to recover and disseminate Spanish history.

Fundación MAPFRE will be taking part in some of these events as follows:

25 March

The public events to commemorate this Centenary were inaugurated with the gathering entitled “The cultural, business and historical dimension of the Americanist projects by Ignacio Larramendi – MAPFRE Collections 1942, Polygraph Virtual Libraries”, held at the Antonio Nebrija University. At the event, two new projects from the Ignacio Larramendi Foundation were presented, the MAPFRE 1492 Virtual Library and the Tavera Classics Virtual Library among others. The first entailed the digitization of the 245 books that make up the MAPFRE 1492 Collections dedicated to studying everything involved in the discovery of the New World. The Tavera Classics collection has also been digitized to ensure universal access. Its perfectly defined series provide access to 2,500 works printed between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries and regarded as fundamental for an understanding of history and other related disciplines such as anthropology, linguistics, art, etc. in Spain, Portugal, Latin America, Ibero-Asia and Italy, areas that have been connected for centuries by numerous cultural bonds.

28 April

The Auditorium of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain hosts the second of the events commemorating the Centenary of Ignacio Hernando de Larramendi. Together with different personalities from the world of medicine and the Larramendi Foundation, we will highlight Ignacio Larramendi’s drive for medical research and the promotion of activities related to medicine.The Auditorium of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain hosts the second of the events commemorating the Centenary of Ignacio Hernando de Larramendi. Together with different personalities from the world of medicine and the Larramendi Foundation, we will highlight Ignacio Larramendi’s drive for medical research and the promotion of activities related to medicine.

Among his achievements is the creation of the Ignacio de Larramendi Scholarships and Research Grants, awarded by Fundación MAPFRE, of which the Virtual Library will be presented at this event.

The following have participated at this gathering:

• Eduardo Díaz-Rubio, President of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain.
• Antonio Huertas, President of Fundación MAPFRE. Medal of Honor of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain in 2018.
• Carmen Hernando de Larramendi, Vicepresidente of Fundación Ignacio Larramendi. Doctor. Member of the Jury for the assessment of the Research Grants.
• Pedro Guilén, member of the Royal National Academy of Medicine. Seat 39. Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery.
• Xavier Agenjo Bullón, Project Director of Foundación Ignacio Larramendi.

21 June

We continue with the events that, on occasion of the centenary of his birth, are aimed at highlighting his legacy and paying tribute to the professional and personal figure of Ignacio Hernando de Larramendi.

On this occasion was presented the book Larramendi, the architect of modern insurance: MAPFRE (humanism in the workplace and in life), the result of research directed by Professor of Applied Economics, Javier Morillas.

The presentation was broadcast live from the Abante Auditorium in Madrid and will be attended by the author of the book and Antonio Huertas, chairman of MAPFRE, José Manuel Martínez, former chairman of MAPFRE and honorary chairman, and Luis Hernando de Larramendi, chairman of the Ignacio Larramendi Foundation.

A documentary was also shown with several testimonials by different MAPFRE personalities, from the world of insurance and from personal friends.

20 September

Presentation of the work of Alejandro de la Vega on the work of I.H. de Larramendi y Montiano and I.H. de Larramendi y Martínez on the project of the Niña III caravel.

28 October

Presentation of the Biography of Ignacio de Larramendi.

If you are interested in history and you believe in the importance of fostering culture, we invite you to come and take part in the centenary of Ignacio de Larramendi.