Antonio Cánovas Del Castillo was a Spanish politician and historian (Málaga, February 8, 1828 — Mondragón (Guipúzcoa), August 8, 1897).

He served as Minister of Gobernance and Minister of Overseas before the First Spanish Republic. Cánovas del Castillo was one of the main advocates for the restauration of the monarchy and the following system of electoral frauds, supported by local leaders. In this way he become Prime Minister (Primer presidente del Consejo de Ministros) several times during the reign of Alfonso XII.

He wrote the Spanish Constitution of 1876 and took the functions of the Head of State during the period of regency of María Cristina.

His government developed a colonial policy that would lead Spain to war against the United States. At home his policies were of repression against the internal dissidents. As an answer to that repression, the Italian anarchist Michele Angiolillo assassinated Cánovas at a spa called "Santa Águeda", in Guipúzcoa.