NEGRI, GAETANO

NEGRI, GAETANO. - Historian, b. in Milan on 11 July 1838, d. near Varazze on 31 July 1902.

He took part in the campaign of 1859 and in the struggle against brigandage in the Mezzogiorno (1860), then, having left the militia, he entered public life and was one of the leading representatives of the moderate party as municipal councillor (1873), assessor and mayor of Milan (1884-89). A deputy in Parliament, he entered the Senate in 1890.

He concerned himself with the religious problems most in vogue in his time, following the direction marked out by Renan in his works and willingly adopted also in Italy by those who, abandoning every confessional tradition, proclaimed the maxim of free thought, while yet keeping themselves far from anticlerical sectarianism. However, his works, which in his time met with favour among the educated classes, are by now antiquated. Notable among those of a rather philosophical character are: Segni dei tempi (1892), Rumori mondani (1892), Meditazioni vagabonde (1897), which were placed on the Index (decree of 9 Sept. 1897). Of a more strictly religious and historical character: Il cristianesimo nella storia (1872), La crisi religiosa (1877), La morale e la religione nella storia (1879), Il Vangelo dell'apostolo Paolo (1882). His last work: L'imperatore Giuliano l'apostata (1901), which had four editions. Some biographies complete his historical output.