LA ICAW,IIOR.A, ALFONSO FEBBERO, Marquis de, an Italian general and statesman, b. Nov. 17, 1804. In 1816 he entered the military academy, where he received the grade of lieutenant in the artillery, previous to leaving in He was speedily pro moted to be adjt.maj., and directed his special attention to the improvement of regi mental gymnastics, riding, and shooting, and to the organization of normal schools for the benefit of the private soldiers. In 1831, having obtained his captaincy, he set out on a tour of inspection of the great military establishments both of Europe and the east. In 1845, he became maj., and for his distinguished conduct in the national war of 1848, was decorated with the medal of valor. The services lie then rendered the Sar dinian army removed from the mind of Charles Albert a prejudice which his warm advocacy of military reform had aroused in the king, In 1S49 he entered the cabinet as minister of war, and notwithstanding his sincere zeal for useful reforms, a general spirit of censure was evoked by his vigorous efforts to displace from the Sardinian ranks the Italian refugees who had entered the regular army. In 18.55 he withdrew
from the ministry, to assume the command of the Sardinfan troops in the Crimea, and at the close of the war was invested with the order of the bath, and the grand cross of the legion of honor, and re-entered the ministry in his former capacity. He took an active part in the war of 1859, by which Lombardy was acquired by Italy; in 1861 was appointed commander-in-chief of the Italian army, and in 1864 prime minister. In the campaign against Austria in 1866, he lost the battle of Custozza. Latterly•e was intrusted with several diplomatic missions; and his account of the secret negotiations between Prussia and Italy incurred the censure of prince Bismarck. La Marmora died in Jan., 1878.