POLITICIAN  Renazzo 1818, Florence 1885

He started his political activity in a crucial moment of the Risorgimento, 1946, and when the war against Austria broke out he took over the direction of  “The Hope” with Mannucci.Very close to Pellegrino Rossi, he was appointed general secreterary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In that position he made any possible effort to restrain the spreading demagogy, to prevent any foreign interference and save constitutional freedom which was in great danger both in Italy and abroad.He retired from the public scene when the French army set up in Rome but he did not forget his commitment to the cause of Italian freedom, which started to triumph in 1859 and Farini appointed him Counsellor of Court of Cassation of Bologna. as soon as he became Governor of Emilia.In 1860 he was elected Deputy of the College of Cento, a position which he held until 1871, when he was replaced by Comm. Mangilli.On 4 February 1866 he was appointed General Secretary of the Minister of Justice and soon after, on 20 June, he took over the Ministry himself.By a royal decree of 15 November 1871, he was made Senator of the Reign and later became Prime Vice-Chairman of the Senate.He died in Florence on 14 April 1885.Beloved by the people of Cento for the greatness of his spirit and mind, as a Deputy (he sided with the right), he proved to be highly honest and diligent: he always attended Parliamentary sessions and held important speeches, mainly judicial, and worked in many different commissions.As many other patriots of Catholic education, Borgatti became greatly interested in politics after the reformist  turning point marked by Pope Pio IX. His enthusiasm did not stop even when the Pope suddenly changed his mind and took a remarkably moderate position.

(Translated by Paola Gallerani)

Two important figures in Borgatti’sLife: on the right pio IX,on the left Luigi Carlo Farini, who, as a Governor of Emilia,appointed him Counsellor of Court of Cassation

BORGATTI’S HOUSE
Mr Borgatti’s house is situated in Corporeno, near Cento. It was built in 1700 and then enlarged in 1830 by his family. Inside, embedded in the entrance wall, there is a marble plate with “PIO IX”, to commemorate the Pope with whom the Senator shared some important political events. Another plate with the sentence: “Here Pio IX rested”, taken away during renovation works, celebrated the time when the Pope, travelling from town to town, had a rest in the house.

Portrait of Senator Borgatti exhibited in the house in Corporeno

Marble plate commemorating Pope Pio IX’s rest in the house, also exhibited in the house.

Birth certificate of  FRANCESCO BORGATTI
Parish Archive "Register of Christenings" pg.117

GIACOMO CASSANI

FERRUCCIO LAMBORGHINI