Ferdinand VI, king of Spain

Ferdinand VI, b. 1712 or 1713, d. 1759, king of Spain (1746–59), son of Philip V by his first queen, Marie Louise of Savoy. When Ferdinand succeeded his father, his stepmother, Elizabeth Farnese Elizabeth Farnese (färnā`sā)
..... Click the link for more information. , lost her power at court and went into retirement. Ferdinand's chief ministers were José de Carvajal y Lancaster, who was pro-British, and Ensenada Ensenada, Zenón de Somodevilla, marqués de la (thānōn` dā sōmōth
..... Click the link for more information. , who had for many years directed the affairs of Spain and strongly favored France. In the years preceding the Seven Years War (1756–63), both France and England sought a Spanish alliance. Carvajal died in 1754, and Ferdinand, desiring Spain to remain at peace, dismissed Ensenada, fearing that he might trap Spain in a French alliance. Richard Wall, an Irishman, succeeded Carvajal, and with his help Ferdinand kept Spain out of the war during his lifetime. In 1758, Ferdinand's queen, Maria Barbara de Braganza, died. Ferdinand did not recover from his grief and died soon afterward. He was succeeded by his half brother, Charles III.

Ferdinand VI

Spanish Fernando

(born Sept. 23, 1713, Madrid, Spain—died Aug. 10, 1759, Villaviciosa de Odón) King of Spain (1746–59). He was the second son of Philip V and his first wife, Marie-Louise. The influence of his father's second wife, Isabella Farnese, kept Ferdinand out of politics during his father's reign. During his own reign he tried to avoid conflicts while relying on his father's minister to bring about reforms. Ferdinand, the second Bourbon Spanish king, and his wife, Maria Bárbara, were patrons of the arts and learning. On his death, the crown passed to his half brother, Charles III.