Minghetti

Minghetti, Marco (1818-86), Italian statesman, was born of a rich merchant family at Bologna. In his youth he travelled in France, Germany, and Great Britain, paying special attention to agricultural economics. After holding office in the short-lived Liberal Ministry of Pius IX. (1848), he entered the service of Charles Albert of Sardinia, and became the intimate friend and supporter of Cavour (q.v.), whose work he carried on after the death of the latter in 1861. He was Minister of the Interior under Cavour in 1860, President of the Council and Minister of Finance 1863-68, came to London as ambassador in 1868 and was again Prime Minister in 1873-76. He published Bella Economia Pubblica (1859), and other works.