Marco Minghetti facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marco Minghetti
Prime Minister of Italy
In office 10 July 1873 – 25 March 1876
Monarch	Victor Emmanuel II
Preceded by	Giovanni Lanza
Succeeded by	Agostino Depretis
In office 24 March 1863 – 28 September 1864
Monarch	Victor Emmanuel II
Preceded by	Luigi Carlo Farini
Succeeded by	Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora
Personal details
Born	(1818-11-18)18 November 1818 Bologna, Papal States
Died	10 December 1886(1886-12-10) (aged 68) Rome, Kingdom of Italy
Political party	Historical Right

Marco Minghetti (born November 18, 1818 – died December 10, 1886) was an important Italian thinker and politician. He played a big part in shaping Italy during a time when it was becoming a united country. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy twice.

Early Life and First Steps in Politics

Marco Minghetti was born in Bologna on November 18, 1818. At that time, Bologna was part of the Papal States, which were lands ruled by the Pope.

He started a newspaper called Il Felsineo in Bologna with his friends. Minghetti wanted to see changes in Italy. He signed a request asking for a more liberal Pope to be chosen in 1846.

Helping Create a Constitution

After a new Pope was chosen, Minghetti was asked to join a special group. This group was tasked with writing a constitution for the Papal States. A constitution is a set of rules for how a country is governed.

He became the Minister of Public Works in the first government of the Papal States. However, he resigned when Pope Pius IX spoke against the idea of uniting Italy. This movement to unite Italy was called the Italian Risorgimento.

Joining the Army

After leaving his government job, Minghetti joined the Piedmontese army. He served as a captain on the general staff. This was another way he showed his support for a united Italy.

Key Roles in Italian Unification

After his time in the army, Minghetti spent eight years studying and traveling. He was preparing for future political roles.

Working with Cavour

In 1856, a very important Italian leader named Cavour called Minghetti to Paris. Cavour wanted Minghetti's help to prepare a report about the future of the Romagna region. This report was for talks happening after the Crimean War.

In 1859, Cavour appointed Minghetti as the secretary-general of Piedmont's Foreign Office. This was a key role in dealing with other countries.

Leading the Romagna Region

That same year, Minghetti was chosen to lead the assembly in the Romagna region. The people there had decided they no longer wanted to be ruled by the Pope. Minghetti helped prepare for this region to join Piedmont, which was a big step towards a united Italy.

Serving as a Minister

In October 1860, Minghetti became the Minister of the Interior for Piedmont. This job involves managing the country's internal affairs. He resigned shortly after Cavour, his mentor, passed away.

Minister of Finance

In 1862, Minghetti was chosen to be the Minister of Finance. This role meant he was in charge of the country's money and budget. He worked under Prime Minister Farini.

Becoming Prime Minister

In 1863, Marco Minghetti became the Prime Minister of Italy, taking over from Farini. He held this important position for 19 months.

The September Convention

As Prime Minister, Minghetti worked with Emilio, marquis Visconti-Venosta to create an agreement called the September Convention. This agreement was made with Napoleon III of France in September 1864.

Under this agreement, France promised to remove its troops from Rome. In return, Italy agreed to move its capital from Turin to Florence. This was a big deal because it showed Italy was serious about not attacking Rome right away.

The decision to move the capital caused strong protests in Turin. Because of these protests, Minghetti resigned from his position as Prime Minister.

Later Political Career

After resigning, Minghetti was less involved in public life for a few years. In 1869, he accepted the job of Minister of Agriculture in the Menabrea government.

Influence and Second Premiership

Minghetti always pushed for Italy to unite fully and take Rome. In 1870, he was sent to London and Vienna. His mission was to try and create a group of neutral countries when the Franco-Prussian War started.

In 1873, he managed to bring down the government and became Prime Minister again. He also held the job of Finance Minister at the same time. He stayed in power until March 18, 1876.

During his second time as Prime Minister, he started to build friendly relations between Italy, Austria, and Germany. He also made improvements to the navy and army. Before he left office, he achieved something very important: he balanced the country's budget. This meant the government was spending the same amount of money it was bringing in, for the first time since 1860.

The Trasformismo Movement

After his party lost power, Minghetti was in the opposition for several years. Around 1884, he joined Agostino Depretis to start a political movement called Trasformismo. This movement aimed to unite different liberal political groups in Italy. He hoped to create a strong, united party like William Ewart Gladstone’s Liberal Party in Britain.

However, Minghetti did not gain any personal power from this movement. He passed away in Rome on December 10, 1886, without returning to lead the government.

Legacy and Writings

Marco Minghetti wrote several important books about economics and the relationship between the church and the state. His writings include Della economia pubblica e delle sue attinenze con la morale e col diritto (1859) and La Chiesa e lo Stato (1878).

He is remembered in Rome with a monument at Piazza San Pantaleo.

See also

In Spanish: Marco Minghetti para niños