born April 5, 1801, Turin, Piedmont
died Nov. 26, 1852, Paris, France
Italian philosopher and politician whose writings helped bring about the unification of the Italian states.
Ordained a priest (1825), he became court chaplain of Sardinia (1831), but was briefly imprisoned (1833) for involvement in a republican plot. He exiled himself to Paris and Brussels, where he published works advocating a united Italy headed by the pope. He returned to Italy in 1847 and became premier of Sardinia-Piedmont (1848–49). His philosophy centered on his concept of being and is termed "ontologism."