MINGHETTI, min-gerte% MAuco (ISIS-SC). An Italian writer and statesman. He was horn at Bologna. November S. ISIS, of a wealthy fam ily. and after a university course in political science made a study of the institutions of France. Germany, and Great Britain. On his re turn to Italy he published an essay on the great commercial advantages of free trade. as existing in England, and espoused with warmth the eco nomic views of Richard Cobden. for the assimila tion of which ha= had liven prepared by a knowl edge of the teachings of the Tuscan eermomist Bandini. In 1540 Miimbetti began his political career by starting at Bologna a journal of liberal tendencies. 11 Pclsineo: by 1847 lie had made such a name for himself that lie was called to Rome by Pius IX. to become a member of the ronsulta (bile Finanzr, and in Isis lie became Minister of Public. Works. After the Papal change of front, however. Minghetti withdrew from office and joined the army of Charles Albert in Lombardy, where he was warmly received by the King and appointed to the royal staff with the rank of captain. After the battle of Goito lie was made a major, and distinguished himself in the engagement of Custozza (July 25, I548). In the autumn of the same year Minghetti was invited to Rome by his friend Count Rossi as a member of the new con stitutional Ministry. Ile arrived the day of Rossi's assassination, and after refusing the Pope's request that he take the place of the murdered Minister he returned to the Piedmont cse army. On the disastrous conclusion of the
war, Mingdietti resumed his study of political econmny, and gained the confidence of Cavour, by whom he was consulted during the conferences of Paris. In 18.59 he became Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but with Cavour upon the conclusion of the armis tice of Villafranca. Minghetti became Minister of the Interior under Cavour in 1800, and after the death of Cavour held the portfolios of the Interior under Rieasoli and of Finance under Farini. In .Nlareh, 1503, lie became Prime Minister. Ire left office in 1504. Ile went as Ambassador to London in 1805, and was sub sequently for a short time at the head of the agricultural and commercial department in the Menabrea Ministry ( 1509). Ile was Ambassador to Vienna in 1570-73. From 1873 to 1570 he was again at the head of the Cabinet. first as Minis ter of Finance and later as Sinister of Foreign Affairs. He spent the last years of his life in study and partial retirement, and died at Rome, December 10, 1550. Among his chief writings are: Della eronomia pnladira, etc. (1559) ; Opnscori, /etteruri rd cconomiri (1572) : Stnto r chirsa (15781. He was also a student of the fine arts, and, besides lecturing on Raphael and Dante, he produced a work, 1,e donne ilaliane nrlle belle anti al sccolo r XI/. (1877). and a raphy of Raphael (1585). His autobiography, I noel ricordi (Turin, ISSS), appeared after his death.