Claudio López Bru

Claudio López Bru
Born	14 May 1853 Barcelona
Died	18 April 1925 Madrid
Nationality	Spanish
Title	Segundo Marques de Comillas
Spouse(s)	María Gayón Barrie

Claudio López Bru, segundo Marqués de Comillas (Catalan: Claudi López i Bru, segon Marquès de Comillas) and Grandee of Spain (1853 in Barcelona – 1925 in Madrid), was a Catalan businessman, an immensely rich shipping magnate and landowner. He inherited the companies his father Antonio López y López (1817–1883) had founded.

For thirty years, (1895–1925), the Marquis of Comillas dominated Catholic policy-making on labour relations.

Claudio Lopez Bru was the fourth son of Antonio López y López —the founder and owner of Compañía Transatlántica Española and Compañía General de Tabacos de Filipinas— and Catalan lady Lluïsa Bru i Lassús.

He studied law at Barcelona University (Universitat de Barcelona). In 1883, following his father's death, he inherited the title "Marquis of Comillas". Barely in his thirties, he ran all the companies his father had started, foremost of which were Compañia General de Tabacos de Filipinas and Ferrocarriles del Norte. In the following years, Claudio himself would expand his father's estate, with coal company Hullera Española, Banca López Bru, Constructora Naval and Banco Vitalicio.

He promoted the Pontifical Seminary of Comillas (Cantabria) that had been financed by his father. The first building was inaugurated in 1890 and through a decree of the Vatican, it became the Pontifical University of Comillas

In 1893 vessel Cabo Machichaco, a ship not belonging to Claudio's CTE shipping line, exploded at the harbor in Santander. The explosion was of such magnitude that a thick mooring cable from the ship hit Peñacastillo, 8 km away, killing a person. Santander harbor was destroyed and the death toll reached 500.

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