MASTAI FERRETTI, GABRIELE. — Born in Senigallia on 31 May 1781, died there on 13 July 1869.
The firstborn of Count Girolamo’s four sons, the last of whom, Giovanni Maria, became Pope Pius IX, he was gonfaloniere of Senigallia from 1816 to 1831.
During the disturbances of that year, he supported the liberal cause, which resulted in his removal from office. He resumed his functions only in 1850, after joining his brother in Gaeta, and retained them until his death.
He never used his kinship with the Pontiff for personal advantage, but only for the benefit of the city entrusted to his administration. Among other things, he obtained the establishment of a boarding-school gymnasium and various other benefits.
BIBL.: G. Spadoni, s. V. in Div. del Risorg. naz., III, pp. 528–529. Renzo U. Montini