Camillo Cavour may be the most famous citizen of Turin. Born in 1810, Cavour became one of the most important and influential authors of the Italian unification. He was known as the “tessitore” or “weaver” for his Machiavellian political tactics, and he was made prime minister under Vittorio Emanuele I. In 1855 he led Piedmont, France’s ally, in England during the war of Crimea, and in 1858 he joined forces with Napoleon against Austria. He died on June 6, 1861 during a stay in London (where he was much esteemed by Queen Victoria). His untimely death meant he would never see the Unification for which he had fought so hard. |
