Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1744-1811). Spanish statesman of the Age of Enlightenment. Jovellanos was shocked to receive the appointment as ambassador to Russia. Manuel Godoy intended to carry out certain reforms and to have important enlightened people involved, offering Jovellanos the role of ambassador in 1797, which he refused. Engraving. Historia del Levantamiento, guerra y revolucion de Espana by the Conde de Toreno. Madrid, 1851. (Photo by: Prisma/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)