Ferdinando Martini

Ferdinando Martini (30 July 1841 – 24 April 1928) was an Italian writer and politician.

Biography

Born in Florence, he worked as journalist and writer. He collaboreated to Il Fanfulla and in 1879 he founded the Fanfulla della domenica literary supplement, which he directed until 1882; he was also editor of La Domenica letteraria from 1882 al 1885 and professor at the University of Pisa.

In 1876 he was elected in the Italian Parliament, a position he held for 43 years. He was Minister of Colonies in the Salandra I and Salandra II cabinets, and Minister of the Public Instruction in the first Giolitti cabinet. Martini was also governor of Eritrea from 1897 to 1907.

On 1 March 1923 he was created Senator of the Italian Kingdom. In 1925 he was one of the signers of Giovanni Gentile's Manifesto of the Fascist intellectuals.

He died at Monsummano Terme in 1928.

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