Lorenzo de Tonti c. 1602 – c. 1684 was a governor of Gaeta, Italy and a Neapolitan banker. He is sometimes credited with the invention of the tontine, a form of life insurance, although it has also been suggested that he simply modified existing procedures. Around 1650, his wife, Isabelle di Lietto, gave birth to their first son, the future explorer Henri
Francesco di Marco Datini 1335 – 16 August 1410 was an Italian merchant born in Prato. Datini is notable for having implemented the first partnership system in business in 1383. Biography Datini was one of four children of Marco di Datino and Monna Vermiglia, who, along with two of their children, both died as a result of
Bartolomeo Cristofori di Francesco Italian pronunciation: ; May 4, 1655 – January 27, 1731 was an Italian maker of musical instruments famous for inventing the piano. Contents 1Life 1.1Earlier instruments 1.2The first appearance of the piano 1.3Later life 2Cristofori’s pianos 2.1Design 2.1.1Action 2.1.2Hammers 2.1.3Frame 2.1.4Inverted wrest plank 2.1.5Soundboard 2.1.6Strings 2.2Sound 2.3Initial reception of the piano 3Surviving
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova Italian: ; 2 April 1725 – 4 June 1798 was an Italian adventurer and author from the Republic of Venice. His autobiography, Histoire de ma vie (Story of My Life), is regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century. As was not uncommon at the
Antonio Benedetto Carpano (1764, Bioglio (Biella) – 1815, Turin) was an Italian distiller, famous for having invented vermouth and consequently the apéritif. In 1786, Antonio Benedetto Carpano invented modern Vermouth in Turin, made from white wine added to an infusion of herbs and spices, in more than 30 varieties. It was sweetened with spirit, which he believed would be a more suitable beverage for
Ambrogio Calepino (Latin: Ambrosius Calepinus; c. 1440–1510), commonly known by the Latin form of his name, Calepinus, was an Italian lexicographer. Calepino was born in Castelli Calepio and died in Bergamo. He entered the Augustinian Order in 1458. Works[edit] His Latin dictionary appeared first in 1502 at Reggio. It was reprinted many times during the 16th century, the Aldine press alone producing no fewer than 18 editions from
Count Alessandro di Cagliostro Italian: ; 2 June 1743 – 26 August 1795 was the alias of the occultist Giuseppe Balsamo (pronounced ; in French usually referred to as Joseph Balsamo). Cagliostro was an Italian adventurer and self-styled magician. He became a glamorous figure associated with the royal courts of Europe where he pursued various occult arts, including psychic healing, alchemy and scrying. His reputation lingered for many decades
Francesco Antonio Broccu 1797–1882, was an Italian artisan and inventor, born in Gadoni, Sardinia, regarded as the first developer of the Revolver, realised by him in 1833. He received a prize of 300 francs for his invention, but he did not patent it. His revolver was shown to the King Charles Albert of Sardinia in 1843. In
Giovanni Agnelli 13 August 1866 – 16 December 1945 was an Italian businessman, who founded Fiat car manufacturing in 1899. Contents 1Early life 2Business career 3Honours 4See also 5Notes 6Sources 7External links Early life The son of Edoardo Agnelli and Aniceta Frisetti, he was born in 1866 in Villar Perosa, a small town near Pinerolo, Piedmont, still the main home and burial
Marcel Bich, baron Bich French: ; Turin, 29 July 1914 – Paris, 30 May 1994 was a manufacturer and co-founder of Bic, the world’s leading producer of ballpoint pens. Contents 1Early years 2Business success 3Yacht racing and sailing 4Personal 5Death 6References 7External links Early years Bich was born in Turin, Italy on 29 July 1914