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From early manhood a disciple of Mazzini and affiliated to the Giovane Italic, he took an active part in the Mazzinian conspiracies and was nearly captured by the Austrians while smuggling arms into Milan. Elected deputy in 1848, he joined the Left and founded the journal Il Diritto, but held no official position until appointed governor of Brescia in 1859. En 1860 he went to Sicily on a mission to reconcile the policy of Cavour (who desired the immediate incorporation of the island in the kingdom of Italy) with that of Garibaldi, who wished to postpone the Sicilian plebiscite until after the liberation of Naples and Rome.

Though appointed pro-dictator of Sicily by Garibaldi, he failed in his attempt. Accepting the portfolio of public works in the Rattazzi cabinet, in 1862, he served as intermediary in arranging with Garibaldi the expedition which ended disastrously at Aspromonte . Four years later, on the outbreak of war against AustriaAustria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, a federation of nine states. Austria is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the, he entered the RicàsoliBettino, baron Ricasoli ( March 29, 1809 October 23, 1880), Italian statesman, was born at Broglio. Left an orphan at eighteen, with an estate heavily encumbered, he was by special decree of the grand duke of Tuscany declared of age. and entrusted with th cabinet as minister of marine, and, by maintaining Admiral Persano in command of the fleet, contributed to the defeat of LissaThe Battle of Lissa was a naval battle between Austrian and Italian forces, in the Adriatic Sea, near the island of Lissa (now Vis) on 20 July 1866. In the last major naval engagement to involve ramming, the outnumbered Austrians defeated the Italians.. His apologists contend, however, that, as an inexperienced civilian, he could not have made sudden changes in naval arrangements without disorganizing the fleet, and that in view of the impending hostilities he was obliged to accept the dispositions of his predecessors.

Upon the death of Rattazzi in 1873, Depretis became leader of the Left, prepared the advent of his party to power, and was called upon to form the first cabinet of the Left in 1876. Overthrown by CàiroliBenedetto Cairoli ( January 28, 1825 August 8, 1889), Italian statesman, was born at Pavia. From 1848 until the completion of Italian unity in 1870, his whole activity was devoted to the Risorgimento as Garibaldian officer, political refugee, anti-Austria in March 1878 on the grist-tax question, he succeeded, in the following December, in defeating Cairoli, became again premier, but on July 3July 3rd is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 181 days remaining. Events 323 Battle of Adrianople Constantine the Great defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium 533 Battle of the Tenth Milestone: Byzantine gen, 1879Events January January 11 Anglo-Zulu War begins January 22 Zulu troops massacre British troops at the Battle of Isandlwana. At Rorke's Drift, outnumbered British soldiers drive the attackers away after hours of fighting. February February 12 At New York C was once more overturned by Cairoli. In November 1879 he, however, entered the Cairoli cabinet as minister of the interior, and in May 1881 succeeded to the premiership, retaining that office until his death.

During the long interval he recomposed his cabinet four times, first throwing out ZanardelliGiuseppe Zanardelli ( October 29, 1826 December 26, 1903) was an Italian jurisconsult, nationalist and political figure. He was prime minister of Italy from February 15, 1901 to November 3, 1903. He was born at Brescia. A combatant in the volunteer corps and Baccarini in order to please the Right, and subsequently bestowing portfolios upon RicottiCesare Francesco Ricotti-Magnani ( June 30, 1822 1917), Italian general and knight of the Annunziata, was born at Borgo Lavezzaro. As artillery lieutenant he distinguished himself and was wounded at the siege of Peschiera in 1848, and in 1852 gained furth, Robilant and other Conservatives, so as to complete the political process known as trasformismo. A few weeks before his death he repented of his transformist policy, and again included Crispi and Zanardelli in his cabinet.

During his long term of office he abolished the grist tax, extended the suffrage, completed the railway system, aided Mancini in forming the Triple Alliance, and initiated colonial policy by the occupation of Massawa; but, at the same time, he vastly increased indirect taxation, corrupted and destroyed the fibre of parliamentary parties, and, by extravagance in public works, impaired the stability of Italian finance.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica