LAMI, GIOVANNI. - Scholar and theologian, born at S. Croce in Valdarno on 9 February 1697, died at Firenze on 6 February 1770. He studied law, mathematics, history, literature, and philosophy and, eager for knowledge, visited the libraries and museums of many European nations. From 1773 until his death he held the chair of ecclesiastical history at the University of Firenze, esteemed by the Grand Duke, who made him his theological consultant. Of a combative character and somewhat sympathetic to the Jansenists, he engaged in many controversies.
His prodigious learning extended to the most varied subjects. Among his theological works may be recalled: De recta Patrum Nicaenorum fide (Venezia 1730) against G. Clerc; De recta Christianorum in eo quod mysterium divinae Trinitatis attinet sententia II. 6 (Firenze 1733), in which he demonstrates the independence of the mystery from Greco-Oriental philosophy. The De erudizione Apostolorum (ibid. 1738) gave rise to a controversy, to which he replied with Esame di alcune asserzioni del S. Ant. Alamanno (ibid. 1749). He also wrote: S. Ecclesiae Florentiae monumenta (ibid. 1738). Many of his works are of a secular nature.