MARTINI, FERDINANDO (1841-1928), Italian author and statesman. Born at Monsummano in Tuscany on July 3o, 1841, he took to journalism at an early age to earn his living, and of ter a short period as a normal school teacher at Pisa, he joined the staff of the Fanfulla of Rome, and afterwards founded the Fanfulla della Domenica, to which Carducci, Bonghi, Verga, Pan zacchi and other eminent writers contributed. In 1874 he was elected to parliament for Monsummano, and soon made a name for himself as a brilliant and witty speaker. He became minister of education in the first Giolitti cabinet (1892-93), and in 1898 he was appointed on the suggestion of King Umberto first civilian governor of Eritrea, a position which he held for ten years. He reorganized the colony, reduced its budget from 17 to 5 millions, built roads and a railway, and constructed the new capital at Asmara. He accepted the post of minister of the colonies offered him by Salandra (q.v.) in 1914, and on the outbreak of the World
War he at once became an active interventionist, and resigned with Salandra in 1916. At the elections of 1919 he failed to be re elected owing to the strong pressure of Nitti. In 1922 he was created a senator on the proposal of Mussolini, but took little part in public life on account of his feeble health. Besides numerous articles, many of which are collected in a volume Fra un sigaro e l'altro, which ran through several editions, he wrote short stories and novels (Chi sa it giuoco non l'insegni, Il bacio dato non e mai perduto, II peggior passo, etc.). His Confessioni Ricordi, pub lished in 1922, enjoyed a wide popularity. His writings are not deep or of the highest literary merit, but witty, brilliant and racy, as was his conversation. Among other works may be mentioned Al teatro (1908), Cose africane (1896), and Nell 'Africa italiana (1891).