Federico Menabrea facts for kids
Luigi Federico Menabrea (born September 4, 1809 – died May 24, 1896) was an important Italian figure. He was a general, a politician, a mathematician, and a diplomat. He later received special titles like Count Menabrea and Marquis of Valdora.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Luigi Federico Menabrea was born in Chambéry. At that time, Chambéry was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. He went to the University of Turin, a famous school. There, he became an engineer and earned a special degree in mathematics. In 1842, he wrote a paper called Sketch of the Analytical Engine Invented by Charles Babbage, Esq.. This paper was about an early type of computer. His work was important and influenced Ada Lovelace, who is known as the first computer programmer.
Start of His Political Career
In 1848, Menabrea began his work in government. He was chosen as a representative in the Parliament of Piedmont. Later, he became the Minister of War, meaning he was in charge of the army. He also served as the Foreign Minister, handling Italy's relationships with other countries.
Menabrea fought in the Second Italian War of Independence. This was a war to help Italy become a unified country. In 1860, he became a high-ranking general. He led the siege of Gaeta, which was a military action to capture a city. After this success, he became a senator and was given the title of count.
Important Government Roles
Menabrea was part of a political group called the "Historical Right." In the new Kingdom of Italy, he held several important jobs. From 1861 to 1862, he was the Minister of the Navy. This meant he was in charge of the country's naval forces. Then, from 1862 to 1864, he was the Minister of Public Works. In this role, he oversaw big building projects for the country.
Prime Minister of Italy
Luigi Federico Menabrea became the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy on October 27, 1867. He stayed in this powerful position until December 14, 1869. His time as Prime Minister is remembered for a few key events:
Conflict with Garibaldi
There was a disagreement with Giuseppe Garibaldi, a famous Italian general. Garibaldi wanted to take Rome from the Pope. He wanted to do this without the help of the French Empire. Menabrea's government had to deal with this difficult situation.
New Taxes
Menabrea's government also increased taxes. One important new tax was on land. This tax especially affected the poorest people in the country.
Attempt in Patagonia
His government also tried to do something unusual. With permission from Argentina, they planned to occupy a region in southern Patagonia. The idea was to send Italian "brigands" (people who broke the law) to live there.
Menabrea was very strict about enforcing laws. He even ordered General Raffaele Cadorna to stop popular uprisings. His government eventually ended when two of his ministers stopped supporting him.
Later Life
After being Prime Minister, Menabrea continued to serve Italy. He became an ambassador, representing Italy in other countries. He worked as an ambassador in London and Paris. He passed away in Saint-Cassin.
