SETTIMO, RUGGERO. - Politician, who played a notable part in the Italian Risorgimento, b. at Palermo on 19 May 1778, d. at Malta on 2 May 1863.
In 1791 he entered the naval academy of Naples and reached the rank of lieutenant commander, also taking part in numerous military expeditions. Having retired from service in 1811, he became a member of Ferdinand's government with the aim of protecting the interests of Sicily. In 1820 he was among the most authoritative Sicilian citizens who brought pressure to bear 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 also held the task of organizing the services for combating cholera. On 12 Jan. 1848, on the occasion of the revolt of Palermo, he was placed at the head of the committee directing the insurrection, also on account of the experience he had acquired, above all in the earlier conflicts between the Island and the government of Naples. The insurrection, under the leadership of S. R., brought about the almost total abandonment of Sicily by the Bourbons, the proclamation of the ancient Sicilian constitution, modified in 1812, the political elections and, on 25 March of the same year, the convocation of Parliament. When the provisional government fell through the action of Filangieri (v.), S. R. withdrew into exile at Malta, and he did not leave it even at the invitation of Garibaldi, who had become master of Palermo on 27 May 1860.
During the provisional government S. R., having declared Ferdinand's forfeiture of the throne of Sicily, had proposed appointing a prince of the House of Savoy to it, and he approved, when it took place, the annexation of Sicily to the Kingdom of Italy (21 Oct. 1860). He received the appointment as senator of the Kingdom on 20 Jan. 1861.
Bibliography2 works
Francesco Ercolani