Daniel Cosío Villegas

Daniel Cosío Villegas (July 23, 1898 – March 10, 1976) was a prominent Mexican economist, essayist, historian, and diplomat.

Cosío Villegas was born in Mexico City. After studying one year in engineering and two years of philosophy, he received a B.A. in Law from the National University (nowadays UNAM) and took several courses in economics at Harvard, Wisconsin and Cornell. Later, he received master's degrees from the London School of Economics and the École libre de sciences politiques of Paris (now Institut d'études politiques de Paris).

After working briefly for Excélsior he joined José Vasconcelos in the production of La Antorcha magazine. In 1929, he served as secretary general of the National University, counselor to the Bank of Mexico, director of the National School of Economics of the National University (1933-1934), director of El Trimestre Económico and founded the Fondo de Cultura Económica, one of the most renowned publishing companies in Latin America.

On April 2, 1951 he was admitted to the National College and from 1957 until 1963 he chaired El Colegio de México, whose library now bears his name. Simultaneously, he was the Mexican Ambassador to the UN Economic and Social Council and became its president in 1959. He received the National Literature Award in 1971 and in 1976 he published Memorias (Memoirs).

Several weeks after publishing his memoirs, he died in Mexico City. Cosio Villegas was known for being a heavy smoker, even his last days.

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