SAVELLI, DOMENICO. — Cardinal, born at Spe-loncato (Ajaccio) on 15 Sept. 1792, died at Rome on 30 Aug. 1864.
He studied at the Seminary of Ajaccio, already displaying courage and energy by promoting and directing the resistance of his village against a band of insurgents (1815). He moved to Rome and at the Sapienza obtained degrees in canon and civil law. He then served in administrative practice at the Congregation of the Council and governed the delegations of Rieti, Frosinone, Perugia, and Macerata. Named Chamberlain of the Sacred College in 1845, during the vacancy of the Holy See he was appointed by the cardinals extraordinary commissioner in the Romagna. He received confidential assignments from Pius IX. In 1847 he became governor of Rome, and in the Ferretti ministry (Dec. 1847–Feb. 1848) minister of Police, showing himself very strict toward liberals. Still in 1848 he became vice chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church. In April 1849, the same Pontiff, from Gaeta, entrusted him with restoring the papal government in the Marches, and the following June appointed him extraordinary commissioner until he was again called to the Ministry of the Interior and Police by Cardinals Altieri, Vannicelli Casoni, and Della Genga, of the so-called “red triumvirate.”
On 7 March 1853 he was created cardinal deacon, and on 4 July was placed in charge of the State Consult for Finances, where he displayed such prudence as to bring the government’s unbalanced budget into balance. In 1859 he left office due to financial disagreements with the Pope and Cardinal Antonelli.