Poerio

Poerio, Carlo (1803-67), Italian patriot, who in early life sought to drive the Bourbons from Italy, for which he was arrested and imprisoned several times between 1837 and 1848, in which year, after certain concessions of King Ferdinand, he became prefect of police at Naples and Minister of Public Instruction. During the revolution of 184S he was arrested as a conspirator and sentenced to twenty-four years' imprisonment in chains, but escaped from the ship which was taking him to the convict settlement and came to England, where he was well received. Mr. Gladstone's famous Letter to Lord Aberdeen called attention to the cruel treatment he received as a prisoner. After some years Poerio got back to Italy, and became a member of the first Italian Parliament.