Ruggero Settimo

National liberation and anti-colonial movements 1778–1863 ○ Natural causes

Sicilian admiral who headed the government of independent Sicily in 1848–1849 and became the first president of the Italian Senate

Born in Palermo in 1778 into a noble family, he became an officer of the Bourbon navy and, fighting alongside the British fleet against Napoleon's French, retook Malta and defended Gaeta. Ill health forced him out of the navy in 1811; he was minister of the navy in the Sicilian government of 1812 and sat on the revolutionary junta of 1820–1821. One of the foremost leaders of the Sicilian revolution of independence of 1848, he was appointed head of government as president of the Sicilian Senate and for 16 months was the effective head of state of an independent Sicily. When Ferdinand II's army put down the rebellion he escaped to Malta, where he lived in exile for twelve years. In 1861 he was elected president of the Senate of the new Kingdom of Italy, serving until his death at Valletta in 1863.

Also known as: Ruggiero Settimo