Agostino Depretis

Agostino Depretis (born the January 31st 1813 with Mezzana-Corti close to Pavia, in Lombardy - died the September 29th 1887 with Stradella, with the Piedmont) was a lawyer and Italian politician who marked the history of his country after the unification.

Biography

Resulting from a rich person family of wine growers lombards, Agostino Depretis becomes lawyer. It adheres to the republican ideas Giuseppe Mazzini. In 1848, it is elected at the Parliament of Turin, where it becomes adverse with Cavour. In 1853, it is detached from the mazzinism and approaches Cavour. In 1860, it takes part in the conquest of Sicily by the Expédition of the Thousand of Giuseppe Garibaldi; it is named prodictator of released Sicily. But showing itself too Piedmontese it is annoyed with Garibaldi.

In 1873, with died of Rattazzi he becomes the chief of the parliamentary extreme-left. Then it occupies the position of president of the Council of Ministers in 1876-1878, 1878-1879 and 1881-1887. He is the creator of the Italian doctrines of the “transformism”, where the ministries are coteries dominated by corruption and the intrigue. With the elections of 1882, it tries to form a center coalition with the moderate ones, then it must approach Francesco Crispi.

Its government action is important. It reforms the administration, it makes primary school education obligatory in 1877. In 1882, it makes adopt an electoral reform which increases the civic body. Hostile in France, which has just ruined the Italian sights on Tunisia (treated protectorate of 1881), it approaches to Germany and Austria with which it signs the treaty of the Triplice, aiming at insulating France in Europe. It engages Italy in the colonization of Africa. In 1885 the Italians occupy Massaoua in Erythrée, first stage of a penetration in Ethiopia.

Its civil funeral in 1887, made scandal in Italy. -----

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