Count Luigi Corti[1] (24 October 1823 – 19 February 1888), Italian diplomat, was born at Gambarana in the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia (present-day Province of Pavia). represented Italy at the Congress of Berlin in 1878 together with Edoardo de Launay.
Luigi Corti | |
|---|---|
 Luigi Corti | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 October 1823 Gambarana |
| Died | 18 February 1888 (aged 64) Roma |
| Alma mater | University of Pavia |
Biography
editLuigi Corti belonged to a noble and ancient Piedmontese family. 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. He held this post until 6 April 1864, when he was appointed resident minister to the King of Sweden and Norway. Three years later, in 1867, he was promoted envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, and went in this capacity to Madrid, where he successfully concluded a treaty with the Queen of Spain for the reciprocal extradition of criminals between the two kingdoms. In 1870 he was transferred to Washington in the same capacity, and during the six years he resided in the United States he did much to render the already amicable relations that existed between Italy and that country closer and more cordial. In recognition of his eminent services, in 1875 he was appointed ambassador to Constantinople, representing Italy at the 1876 Constantinople Conference.[2]
Called by Cairoli to the direction of foreign affairs in 1878, he represented the Kingdom of Italy 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 empty 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 after a misunderstanding.
Honours
edit
Grand cordon of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Luigi Corti at the Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Università degli Studi di Lecce (1987). La formazione della diplomazia nazionale (1861-1915) Repertorio bio-bibliografico dei funzionari del Ministero degli Affari Esteri (in Italian). Roma: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca della Stato. pp. 215-216
Bibliography
edit
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Corti, Lodovico, Count". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 207.
- Clemente, Vincenzo (1983). "CORTI, Luigi". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Volume 29: Cordier–Corvo (in Italian). Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. ISBN 978-8-81200032-6.
