Birthplace of Andrés Piquer

Andrés Piquer Arrufat was a monumental figure of the 18th century, a philosopher, natural scientist and physician whose contributions revitalised medical science in Spain after a period of stagnation. Born in Fórnoles in 1711, specifically at number 3 calle de la Rectoría, Piquer came from a well-to-do family whose fortune was unfortunately diminished as a result of the War of the Spanish Succession.

Andrés Piquer spent his early years in Fórnoles, where he began his basic studies. His training later took him to La Fresneda, a centre of learning where he deepened his knowledge of Latin and grammar, laying the foundations of his vast intellect. At the early age of sixteen, Piquer moved to Valencia, a city that would become a fundamental pillar of his academic development. There, he specialised in physical sciences, philosophy and medicine, completing his studies with a degree in medicine in 1734, an achievement that opened the doors to a brilliant career.

Piquer's professional rise was meteoric. In 1742, he was appointed titular physician of Valencia, a position of great prestige that consolidated his reputation. That same year, his academic excellence earned him the Chair of Anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine of Valencia. His influence extended beyond the local sphere, and from 1751 Piquer was appointed chamber physician to King Fernando VI, a position of the utmost trust. After the monarch's death, he continued to serve the Crown from 1759, this time as chamber physician to his successor, Carlos III, reflecting the high esteem and confidence that the monarchs placed in his expertise.

Piquer's prolific work includes significant treatises on philosophy and medicine, in which his advanced ideas are expressed through an eclectic approach combining rationalism with empiricism. This synthesis established him as a pioneering and influential figure at the dawn of the Spanish Enlightenment. His impact and legacy endure to this day, despite his death in Madrid in 1772.