Bettino Ricasoli

1809-1880. Italian politician and patriot. He worked for the unity of Italy, was minister of Tuscany, and later, after Cavour's death (1861), was prime minister of Italy. In touch with the leaders of Tuscan evangelism and with Swiss Protestant circles, he was greatly influenced by them and hoped for a reform of the Roman Catholic Church. He never, however, severed his connection with the latter. As a minister he tried in vain to solve the problem of the relationship between the Italian state and the Vatican.