Saffi was born in
Forlì, then part of the
Papal States (now
Emilia-Romagna region). He received an education in
jurisprudence in
Ferrara, but began political activity in his native city, protesting against the bad administration of the
Papal legates. He was also a member of the communal and provincial councils between 1844 and 1845. He soon became a fervent supporter of Mazzini's ideas, and in 1849 took part in the short-lived
Roman Republic. Saffi was a member of the triumvirate that attempted to establish a democratic republic. The revolutionaries, however, were soon (June 1849) crushed by French troops, and Saffi retired to
Liguria as an exile. From there he joined Mazzini in
Switzerland, and then moved with him to
London. Saffi returned to Italy only in 1852, to plan a series of risings to be held in
Milan. After the failure of the project in 1853, he fled to England again and was condemned in absentia to twenty years in prison. He was appointed the first teacher of Italian at the
Taylor Institute, Oxford, in 1856. While in England he married (1857) (born Georgiana Janet Craufurd). She was also a fervent supporter of Mazzini, and a
feminist. They had four sons: Attilio Joseph (1858 - 1923), Emilio John (1861 - 1930), Charles Balilla Louis (1863 - 1896) and Rinaldo Arthur (1868 - 1929). In 1860, Saffi moved to
Naples, again with Mazzini. The following year he was elected a deputy in the
Parliament of the newly formed
Kingdom of Italy. Some years later he returned to London, where he remained until 1867. He spent his last days in his villa in the Forlì countryside, moving to
Bologna where he had received a professorial chair. He also devoted himself to collecting historical material connected to his friend Giuseppe Mazzini. He died at the age of seventy at his residence, Villa Saffi, which is now turned into a museum. There is a statue of Saffi in the central square of his native Forlì. ==See also==