Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born in the Palace of Jabalquinto of Baeza to a noble family, Francisco de Paula Benavides y Navarrete entered the Seminary of San Felipe de Neri in Baeza in 1822. Moving to Granada in 1827 in order to pursue his studies at the Colegio de San Bartolomé y Santiago, he entered the Military Order of the Knights of Santiago, being ordained priest in 1836 by its prelate prior. Professor of theology at the University of Granada, he served as curate in Colmenar de Oreja until 1840, when he moved to Baeza, in order to lecture religion and morals at the Institute of Secondary Studies. Professor and later rector of the local seminary, in the years which followed he was appointed archdeacon of Ubeda, archpriest of the cathedral chapter of Jaén, royal preacher supernumerary and dean of the cathedral chapter of Córdoba. Elected bishop of the diocese of Sigüenza, he received his episcopal consecration on March 14, 1858 in Madrid. Decorated with the grand cross of the Order of Isabel la Católica in May 1863, a few days later he resigned the pastoral government of his see, being appointed on June 5, titular patriarch of the West Indies and royal chaplain and almoner. Pope Pius IX created him cardinal priest in the consistory of March 12, 1877, receiving the title of San Tommaso in Parione the following June. Opting for the title of San Pietro in Montorio on February 28, 1879, he was decorated with the grand cross of the Austrian Order of Sankt Stefan in 1879. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Zaragoza on May 13, 1881, the Cardinal was a member of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language and of the Royal Academy of History. He passed away in while still in office, leaving behind no possessions, having distributed them all in life through alms and charities.