Zenón de Somodevilla and Bengoechea. Marquess of the Cove.
Spanish politician, creator of the great administrative reforms of the reigns of Felipe V and Fernando I SAW Was born in Hervías (the Rioja) the 20 of April of 1702. Of origin hidalgo, had its social promotion to its services to the State. In particular, one formed in the school of Jose Patiño within the naval administration. After demonstrating his (1732) were worth in the conquest of Orán, and in the expedition to Naples (1733) it was compensated with the title of Marquess of the Cove in 1736. The following year it ascended to the position of secretary of the Council of the Admiralty, and collaborated like intendant of Navy in the naval reconstruction. In 1743, to the death of Jose of the Campillo, it happened to head the administration occupying the secretariats of Property, War, Navy and Indians, and Been.

From the position it approached an ample program of reforms in the administration and the property, the commerce of the Indians, the naval construction and the fortification of the Army as it bases for the maintenance of La Paz from a neutral position. Indeed the use of the force in front of England was the reason for the main differences with Jose de Carvajal, person in charge of the outer subjects. Its policy of extreme regalismo, supported by jesuita Rávago father.

In 1753, among other rights, the crown obtained from Rome the universal patronage on the ecclesiastical benefits. The fall of Cove was related to the opened political crisis in 1754, when prevailing the English and antijesuitas interests that represented the Duke of Huéscar and Ricardo Wall. Cove was dismissed in Granada, and although Carlos III when arriving at the throne lifted the sentence to him, no longer returned to carry out more positions. He died the 2 of December of 1781 in Medina of the Field (Valladolid).