MINGELETTI, CAVALIERE MARCO, a distinguished Italian writer and statesman, and for a time prime minister of Italy, was born at Bologna, on Nov. 8, 1818. He belonged to an opulent commercial family, and on the termination of his studies, entered on an exten.sive continental tour, with the object of closely investigating the political, social, and economical institutions of France, Germany, and more especially of Britain. On his return from traveling, he published his Maiden essay, inculcating the great commercial advantages of free trade, as existing in England, and espousing with warmth the econo mical views of Richard Cobden. In 1846 31inghetti opened his political career by startin,g a journal of liberal tendencies, soon after the advent of Pius IX. to power; in 1847 he was elected member of the Consulta delle Finanze, and in 1848 became minister of public works. Having speedily lost faith in papal progression, Minghetti withdrew from office, and joined the army Of Char es Albert in Lombardy, where he was warmly received by the king, and appointed eapta n. After the battle of Goito he was promoted major; and
for his bravery in the engagement of Custoza, he received from the king the cross of the knights of St. Maurizio. On the conclusion of the war, Minghetti resumed his study of political econoMy; and gained the confidence of Cavour. by whom he was consulted during the conferences of Paris. He subsequentiv became secretary for foreign affairs, and only resigned with Cavour on the peace of Villafranca. Minghetti became minister of the interior in 1860, and premier in 1863. On leaving the ministry, be went as ambassa. dor to London in 1868, and was subsequently, for a short time, minister of agriculture. In 1873 be became premier of a new ministry. His ( hief.work is Della Economia pubbliea e delle sue Attinenze con la morale, e Col diritto (1859).