RICASOLI, re-lca's6-16, BARON Rettig*, Italian statesman: b. Florence, 9 March 1809; d. near Siena, a Oct. 1880. He first entered public life in 1847 when he sebtuitted to the Grand Duke Leopold of Tuscany plans of governmen tal reform which the latter saw himself forced to adopt. Ricasoli became mayor of Florence in 1847 and in the following year was elected to the Tuscan Parliament, and helped to bring about the oi thegrand duke. .After the battle of Novara (1849) and the restoration of Austrian influence he retired to private life and devoted• himself mainly to the scientific study and practice of agriculture. When the revolutionary movement of 1859 compelled the grand duke to flee, Ricasoli became of the, Interior, and in August of the same year dictator. He resolutely opposed all attempts at a restoration of the grand-ducal goveriunent aad labored for the annexation of Tuscany to Sardinia, which was accomplished in Mardi 1860. He was made, thereupon, governor of Tuscany, and was a member of the first Italian Parliament which assembled in 1861. In June
he succeeded Cavour as head of the ministry and sought to carry out his predecessor's policy, but he could make no head against the opposi and in March 1862 made way for the ministry of Rattazzi (q.v.). He assumed office once more in the early part of 1866, conducted public affairs with ability during the war against Austria, but met with no success in his internal policy of decentralization and financial reform because of his inability to rally a Parliamentary majority to his support. He resigned in April 1867, to be followed by Rattazzi, but remained a member of the Chamber of Deputies till his death, though taking no very active part in affairs. His and Papers' were pub lished by Tabarrini and Gotti at Florence in 10 volumes (1886-94).
ret-chir-delle, Dania(.
See VOLTERRA, IIDANIELR DA.