Lodovico, Count Corti

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Lodovico, Count Corti (October 24, 1823 - February 19, 1888), Italian diplomat, was born at Gambarano.

Early involved with Benedetto Cairoli in anti-Austrian conspiracies, he was exiled to Turin, where he entered the Piedmontese foreign office. After serving as artillery officer through the campaign of 1848, he was in 1850 appointed secretary of legation in London, whence he was promoted minister to various capitals, and in 1875 ambassador to Constantinople.

Called by Cairoli to the direction of foreign affairs in 1878, he took part in the Congress of Berlin, but unwisely declined Lord Derby's offer for an Anglo-Italian agreement in defence of common interests. At Berlin he sustained the cause of Greek independence, but in all other respects remained isolated, and excited the wrath of his countrymen by returning to Italy with clean hands.

For a time he withdrew from public life, but in 1881 was again sent to Constantinople by Cairoli, where he presided over the futile conference of ambassadors upon the Egyptian question. In 1886 he was transferred to the London embassy, but was recalled by Crispi in the following year through a misunderstanding.

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.