Bembo

Bembo, Pietro, cardinal, was born in 1470 at Venice. Having laid the foundation of extensive erudition he entered the Church, ultimately in 1512 becoming secretary to Pope Leo X. In 1529 he accepted the position of historiographer to the Republic of Venice, and shortly afterwards of librarian of St. Mark's. In 1539 Pope Paul III. made him a cardinal, following that up by appointing him to the bishoprics of Gubbio and Bergamo. Among his works are an edition of Petrarch's Italian poems and Dante's Terzerime, a History of Venice from 1487 to 1513, various dialogues, poems, and essays. He died in 1517.