RICA'SOLI, BErrixo, Baron, b. at Florence, Mar. 9, 1809; is descended from a very • ancient Lombard family, which established itself in Tuscany in the 13th century. Rica soli studied at Pisa and Florence, and from an early period of his life was imbued with a desire to ameliorate the civil and religious condition of his country. His friends and associates were men like Poerio, Pepe, Coletta, Giordani, Nicolini, etc. But he was averse to revolution, and finding no legitimate opening for himself in political life, quietly sub sided into a country gentleman, and set about "improving" his estates. He is one of the best agriculturalists in Italy, and has written on the cultivation of the vine, of the olive, and of the mulberry. His wines of Chianti have gained for him the cross cif the legion of honor. in 1847 he appeared as a politician; but be hoped to obtain liberty and good laws from princes, and not from the people, and whin Leopold II. tied to Gaeta, he retired from public life. Very soon, however, he joined with other Tuscan gentle men, and after the defeat of Novara, he overthrew the government of Guerrazzi, and recalled the grand duke, trusting to the constitutional promises given by the latter. Leo pold returned, ac3ompanied by the Austrians; and Ricasoli, indignant at this treachery, sent back his decoration to the prince, and shut himself up in his castle of Brolio_ addicting himself more than ever to agricultural pursuits. For ten years lie worked suc
cessfully at. the drainage of the Tuscan Maremme (q.v.). In 18:39, when Tuscany wished to take part in the war of Italian independence, Ricasoli reappeared. The grand duke fled, and Ricasoli was made dictator of Tuscany. After Villafranea he remained alone in the government, beset by the French emissaries, who were advising him to recall Leopold 11. Ricasoli fiercely refused to do so; he wished the annexation to Piedmont; and to those who spoke of the dane.ers he was incurring, he answered in those words which history will never forget: "hope Villafranca he sputato sulfa mia "After Viilufntnca I have spit upon my life." His obstinacy saved Italy, and produced the unity of the peninsula. On the death of Guyon'. (1861), Iticasoli was called to the ministry, and by another abrupt and decided act he promulgated political and adminis trative unity. Ills cabinet, undermined by Ratazzi. did not stand, and lie therefore resigned (Mar'., 1862). Ricasoli returned to power in June, 1866, and retired in April the following rear, when he was succeeded by Ratazzi.—See M. Luigi Passerini's Geacalogia e dells ll'amiglia Ricasoli (Florence, 1861).