Early life and patriotic activities He was born in
Palermo (then part of the
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) into an
aristocratic Sicilian family. However, his family was of a more cultured, liberal disposition than many of their contemporaries. In 1859, he joined the revolutionary committee which paved the way for
Garibaldi's triumphs in the following year. After spending a short time in Turin as attaché to the Italian foreign office, he was elected
mayor of Palermo. In 1866, he displayed considerable personal courage and energy in quelling
an insurrection of separatist and reactionary tendencies. The prestige thus acquired led to his appointment as prefect of Palermo. It was while occupying that position that he put down brigandage throughout the province. In 1868, he was prefect of Naples. He endangered relations with
Great Britain by the unauthorized publication of confidential diplomatic correspondence in a Green-book on Abyssinian affairs. He made it clear though that a reorganization of the Fasci would not be tolerated. Di Rudinì's minister of the treasury
Luigi Luzzatti passed two measures of social legislation in 1898. The industrial workmen's compensation scheme from 1883 was made obligatory with the employer bearing all costs, and a voluntary fund for contributory disability and old age pensions was created. To satisfy the anti-colonial party, he ceded
Kassala to Great Britain, thereby provoking much indignation in Italy. His internal policy was marked by continual yielding to Radical pressure and by the persecution of Crispi. During his second term of office, he thrice modified his cabinet (July 1896, December 1897, and May 1898) without strengthening his political position. By dissolving the Chamber early in 1897 and favouring Radical candidates in the
general election, he paved the way for the outbreak of popular uprisings about rising prices in May 1898.
Death and legacy Di Rudinì retained his seat in Parliament until his death in 1908. Has reputed to be a thorough gentleman and
grand seigneur. One of the largest and wealthiest landowners in Sicily, he managed his estates on liberal lines and was never troubled by agrarian disturbances. The marquis, who had not been in office since 1898, died at Rome in August 1908, leaving a son, Carlo, who married a daughter of
Henry Labouchère. ==List of Rudinì's cabinets==