The Life of Sir Anthony Panizzi, K.C.B.
Late Principal Librarian of the British Museum, Senator of Italy, Etc.

This biography of Anthony Panizzi (1797–1879), Italian patriot and librarian of the British Museum, was published in 1880.

Louis Fagan (Author)

9781108044905, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 February 2012

368 pages, 13 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.1 cm, 0.47 kg

Anthony Panizzi (1797–1879), born in Brescello, Italy, qualified as a lawyer, but fled to Switzerland in 1823 to avoid arrest for political activities in support of Italian unification. He then moved to England, where he became a naturalised British subject. The patronage of Lord Brougham, the Lord Chancellor, got him a post in the British Museum Library, where he remained for thirty-five years. He was responsible for the great expansion of the library, the building of the famous round Reading Room, and the compilation of cataloguing rules which remain influential today. Volume 2 of this two-part 1880 biography by his colleague Louis Fagan (1845–1903) begins with Panizzi's promotion in 1856 to Principal Librarian, a post he held for ten years. He remained involved in Italian politics, acting as an unofficial ambassador to British politicians, and received many honours, including a knighthood and a seat in the Italian senate.

14. Retirement of Sir Henry Ellis
15. Sir W. Temple
16. Desire to visit Naples
17. Cardinal Alberoni
18. Death of Panizzi's sister
19. Legion of Honour, etc.
20. Devising means for escape of Settembrini
21. Bianchini's appointment
22. Departure of Neapolitan prisoners
23. Italian unity
24. England in 1859
25. Ill-health
26. Death of Mr. Ellice
27. Prosper Merimée
28. Senator of Italy
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: British & Irish history [HBJD1]