Pedro Padilla and his Mathematical Course (1753-1756): Views on Mixed Mathematics in eighteenth-century Spain

In 1717 the King Philip V established the Royal Guards Headquarters (Cuartel de Guardias de Corps), mirroring the French garde du corps du roi. Intended mainly for noblemen, it was an elitist institution, all its members having the rank of officers and benefitting from huge privileges. Towards the end of 1750 an Academy of Mathematics (Academia de Matemáticas) was created within the Royal Guards Headquarters, under the direction of Captain Pedro Padilla (1724-1807?). This academy was ruled by the same regulations as the Military Academy of Mathematics of Barcelona (1720-1803).1 Attendance was not mandatory; it was only devised for those interested in getting a deeper mathematical knowledge. In fact, rather than its real practical use for the Royal Guards, mathematics was studied as a mark of prestige as Hidalgo (1991) pointed out.