CAVALCHINI (Guidoboni), Carlo Alberto. Cardinal, b. at Tortona on 26 July 1683, d. at Rome on 7 March 1774. Having graduated in law he was admitted to the College of Judges and Doctors in Milan. In 1716 Clement XI appointed him consistorial advocate; in 1725 Benedict XIII made him a votant of the Segnatura; and Benedict XIV created him cardinal of S. Maria della Pace on 9 September 1743, later appointing him prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. His vote in favour of the beatification of Cardinal Robert Bellarmine remained famous; he was the “ponente” in that cause (Relatio C. A. C. ponentis in causa beatif. Rob. card. Bellarmini, Rome 1753).
France publicly vetoed his election to the papacy at the Conclave of 1758 on the ground that he was regarded as one of the cardinals favourable to the Society of Jesus. This favour, however, seems to have cooled later, as may be inferred from his sponsorship of the beatification of Palafox and his lack of opposition to the suppression of the Society. At the Conclave of 1769 his possible election was mooted; he consented to the election of Ganganelli. Bishop of Albano from 12 February 1759, he became bishop of Ostia and dean on 16 May 1763. He was buried at the SS. Apostoli.