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Luigi Gaetano Marini

Natural philosopher, jurist, historian, archeologist, b. Dec. 18, 1742; d. May 7, 1815

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Marini, LUIGI GAETANO, natural philosopher, jurist, historian, archeologist, b. at Sant’ Orcangelo (pagus Acerbotanus), December 18, 1742; d. at Paris, May 7, 1815. Having received a comprehensive preparatory education at the College of San Marino and at the seminary at Rimini, he was able to pass through the legal and philological studies at Bologna University brilliantly, and to graduate at Ravenna in utroque ju re (in both branches of law). He went to Rome in December, 1764, where he gained the friendship of Cardinal Alessandro Albani and Garampi. He entered into relations with the most distinguished scholars of his day, and maintained with them an extensive correspondence. In 1772 he was appointed coadjutor to Marino Zampini, prefect of the archives; and was also given the position by the Roman Republic of prefect of the archives at the Vatican and the Castle of St. Angelo, as well as that of president of the Vatican Museum and the Vatican Library. On August 18, 1800, Pius VII made him primus custos of the Vatican Library and also prefect of the archives. In January, 1805, he was made a cameriere d’onore to the pope.

When the archives of the Curia were carried off to Paris by Napoleon, he accompanied them, and reached Paris, April 11, 1810. After Napoleon’s fall the Count of Artois, vice-regent and brother of the king, issued a decree on April 19, 1814, directing the restitution to the Holy See of the archives, of all documents and MSS., and of several other collections. On April 28 the papal commissioners, Msgr. de Gregorio, Msgr. Gaetano Marini, and his nephew Don Marino Marini, took charge of the whole of this property; but before it had reached Rome Gaetano Marini, who had long been an invalid, died at Paris. He was a scholar of eminent parts, a thorough master of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; and possessed profound legal knowledge. By choice he took up questions of natural philosophy; as an archaeologist and historian he is esteemed even today. His great work on papyrus records is a standard work on the investigation of papyri. His book on the Arval Brothers of ancient Rome, showed great erudition and brought to light so much that was new, that its appearance created considerable stir. His classification of five thousand inscriptions, both Christian and heathen, in the Galleria Lapidaria at the Vatican, is a masterpiece, and earned for him the honorary title of “Restorer” of Latin epigraphics [“Inscriptiones (only preserved in MS.) christianae Latinae et Graecae aevi Milliarii conlegit digessit adnotationibusque auxit Caietanus Marinus a Bibliotheca Vaticana item a scriniis sedis apostolicae. Duae partes”]. Marini was a cleric, but not a priest. He was distinguished for his piety, often praying for hours before the Blessed Sacrament. He went to communion three times a week. During his residence in Paris he gave away alms to the extent of 3000 scudi (dollars).

PAUL MARIA BAUMGARTEN


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