SETTIMO, RUGGIERO. – Politician who played a significant role in the Italian Risorgimento, b. in Palermo on 19 May 1778, d. in Malta on 2 May 1863.
In 1791 he entered the Naval Academy of Naples and attained the rank of lieutenant commander, also taking part in numerous war expeditions. Having retired from service in 1811, he joined Ferdinand’s government with the aim of safeguarding the interests of Sicily. In 1820 he was among the most authoritative Sicilian citizens who exerted pressure on King Ferdinand to obtain the restoration of the constitution of 1812, and he entered the new Ministry together with Zurlo, the Duke of Campochiaro, and Carrascosa. From 1832 to 1836 he was also charged with organizing services to combat cholera. On 12 January 1848, on the occasion of the Palermo revolt, he was placed at the head of the committee directing the insurrection, also because of the experience he had acquired above all in the preceding conflicts between the Island and the government of Naples. The insurrection, under the leadership of S. R., led to the almost total abandonment of Sicily by the Bourbons, the proclamation of the ancient Sicilian constitution, modified in 1812, the holding of political elections and, on 25 March of the same year, the convocation of Parliament. When the provisional government FILANGIERI, GAETANO (v.), S. R. withdrew into exile in Malta, and did not leave it even in response to the invitation of Garibaldi, who had become master of Palermo on 27 May 1860.
During the provisional government, S. R., having declared Ferdinand’s deposition from the throne of Sicily, had proposed appointing a prince of the House of Savoy to it and approved, when it took place, the annexation of Sicily to the Kingdom of Italy (21 October 1860). He was appointed a senator of the Kingdom on 20 January 1861.