GAVAZ'ZI, ALESSANDRO, a popular Italian preacher and reformer, distinguished by his patriotic zeal in promoting the civil and religious progress of his country, was b. at Bologna in 1809. At the early age of 16, he became a monk of the Barnabite order, and subsequently was appointed professor of rhetoric at Naples, where he speedily acquired great reputation as an orator. By his uncompromising advocacy of church . and state reformation, he earned at once the enthusiastic admiration of the progressive party among his countrymen, and the bitter enmity of the priestly and ruling powers.
On the accession of Pius IX. to the papal chair, Gavazzi was one of the foremost supporters of the liberal policy that inaugurated that pontiff's reign; and having repaired to Rome, he devoted himself to the diffusion of political enlightenment and patriotic aspirations among the masses of the Roman population. The pope sanctioned his political labors and appointed him almoner of a body of 16,000 Roman troops, who volunteered for the campaign of Lombardy in 1848, and quitted Rome to proceed to Vicenza. To Gavazzi's fervid and patriotic oratory may be attributed, in no slight degree, the universal spirit of self-sacrifice evoked throughout Italy during this period of her history. He was called the Pietro Eremita, or Peter the hermit of the national cru sade. The Roman legion having been recalled by the pope, Gavazzi cqntinued in Flor
ence, Genoa, and Bologna, to agitate in favor of the national movement. On the estab lishment of the republic at Rome, he was appointed almoner-in-chief to the national army. Under his superintendence, efficient military hospitals were organized and attended by a band of Roman ladies, who volunteered their services and co-operation in the care of the wounded. Rome having fallen, Gavazzi escaped to England, where he delivered numerous addresses and lectures, illustrative of the political and religious aims of his country. He afterwards visited the chief towns of Scotland, in every one of which he received a hearty welcome. In 1851, Gavazzi ,published his Memoirs in English and Italian; and, a few months later, a selection of his Orations. From Scot land the Italian orator proceeded to the United States, where he was rather coldly received; and when he went to Canada his public appearances, on more than one occa sion, nearly caused a riot. Gavazzi was present with Garibaldi at Palermo during the expedition of 1860. He again visited London in 1870, and has since then repeatedly visited England and Scotland, preaching and lecturing in aid of the funds of the (Prot estant) Italian Free Church (Liberal Chiesa).