Crispi
FRANCESCO, an Italian statesman; born in Ribera, Sicily, Oct. 4, 1819. He studied law at the University of Palermo and settled at Naples in 1846. Since then he has been an important factor in Italian history. He took part in the conspiracies that led to the overthrow of the Two Sicilies, after which he fled to France for a time; served as a major under Garibaldi in 1860, and in 1861 was returned by Palermo to the first Italian Parliament, and became President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1876. He was made Minister of the Interior in 1877, Prime Minister in 1887 and again in 1893. He was a warm friend of Bismarck. He became unpopular with the people on account of taxation and two attempts were made to assassinate him. He died Aug. 11, 1901.