Giovanni Falcone Italian: ; 18 May 1939 – 23 May 1992 was an Italian judge and prosecuting magistrate. From his office in the Palace of Justice in Palermo, Sicily, he spent most of his professional life trying to overthrow the power of the Sicilian Mafia. After a long and distinguished career, culminating in the Maxi Trial in 1986–1987, on 23 May 1992, Falcone was assassinated by
Giuseppe Donati 2 December 1836 – 14 February 1925 was the inventor of the classical ocarina, a ceramic wind instrument based on the principle of a Helmholtz resonator. Donati was born in Budrio. Legend has it that he created his first “little goose” (“ocarina” in Italian dialect) in 1853, aged 17, whilst still working as a brickmaker. His
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