PANIZZI

Sir Anthonio Genesio Maria (son of Luigi Panizzi of Brescello in duchy of Modena). b. Brescello 16 Sept. 1797; educ. Reggio and univ. of Parma 1814–8; practised as an advocate 1818; became a Carbonaro March 1820, arrested 22 Oct. 1822, escaped and fled to Lugano, was sentenced to death 6 Oct. 1823 in his absence, having published a pamphlet entitled I Proce i di Rubier a, denouncing the Modenese government; came to London May 1823; taught Italian in Liverpool to 1828; profe or of Italian at London univ. May 1828 to 1837, the univ. opened 1 Oct. 1828; a istant librarian in the British Museum 27 April 1831, keeper of the printed books 15 July 1837, principal librarian 6 March 1856, procured an annual grant of £10,000 for the library 1845; submitted a design for the new reading room to the trustees 5 May 1852, foundations were laid May 1854 and the building opened 2 May 1857; resigned librarianship 26 June 1866 on his full pay; naturalised 24 March 1832; received cro of the legion of honour 24 Dec. 1851; received Sard in i an order of Saint Maurice and Lazarus Dec. 1855; a senator of the Kingdom of Italy 12 March 1868; a commander of the order of crown of Italy 22 April 1868; K.C.B. 27 July 1869; edited Works of Ariosto 1818, Bojardo 1830, and Dante 1858; author of An elementary Italian grammar for the use of students in the London university 1828; Extracts from Italian prose writers 1828; On the supply of printed books from the library to the reading room of the British museum 1846; On the collection of printed books at the British museum, its increase and arrangement 1845. d. 31 Blooms bury sq. London 8 April 1879. bur. St. Mary’s catholic cemet. Kensal Green 12 April, bust by Marochetti and portrait by Watts at British Museum. L. Fagan’s Life of sir A. Panizzi , 2 vols. (1880) portrait ; R. Cowtan’s Biographical sketch of sir A. Panizzi (1873); F. Espina e’s Literary recollections (1893) 15–21; L. Fagan’s reform club (1887) 125–6 portrait ; I.L.N. lxxiv 369 (1879) portrait ; Graphic xix 396 (1879) portrait ; Leisure Hour xxx 344 portrait .