José Cristóbal Sorní, Valencian lawyer, politician, and federalist republican. A progressive militant during his youth, he joined the democratic party in 1848 and became the chosen delegate to the Court during the Progressive Biennium (1854-56), notable in his advocacy for freedom of worship, expanding the number of registered voters, and surpressing the death penalty. During the Democratic Sexennium (1868-74) he was newly delegated as the confidant pf Pi y Margall, president of the federalist government of the First Republic (1873-74). He was named minister of Ultamar and decreed the abolition slavery in Cuba, later revoked by the  Restoration, the same regime that separated Sorní from the primary political line.