Azeglio

Azeglio, Massimo Taparelli, Marchese d', an Italian statesman, was born of a noble Piedmontese family in 1798. He first attracted notice and appealed to patriotism as a painter of historical pictures. Next he spoke to his fellow-countrymen in the stirring romances Ettore Fieramosca and Nicolo de Lapi. Lastly in 1846 he published a political pamphlet which revealed him as an advocate of reform. He is believed to have bad a good influence over the early days of Pio IX,, but in 1848 he laid aside the pen for the sword, and fighting for Italian independence was seriously wounded at Vicenza. He now entered the Piedmontese parliament, and after Novara became Victor Emanuel's right-hand man. Strongly attached to constitutional monarchy and opposed to republican innovations, he paved the way for the bolder policy of Cavour, retiring in his favour from the head of affairs. He represented his country for some years at the British Court, and won many firm friends in England. He died in 1866.