Giuseppe Belluzzo (1876–1952) was an Italian mechanical engineer, scholar and politician. He was a member of the

Italian Parliament The Italian Parliament () is the national parliament of the Italy, Italian Republic. It is the representative body of Italian citizens and is the successor to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1848–1861), the Parliament of the Kingd ...

and of the

Italian Senate The Senate of the Republic (), or simply the Senate ( ), is the upper house of the bicameral Italian Parliament, the lower house being the Chamber of Deputies. The two houses together form a perfect bicameral system, meaning they perform iden ...

. He served as the minister of national economy and minister of public education in the cabinet of

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who, upon assuming office as Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister, became the dictator of Fascist Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 un ...

Early life and education

Belluzzo was born in

Verona Verona ( ; ; or ) is a city on the Adige, River Adige in Veneto, Italy, with 255,131 inhabitants. It is one of the seven provincial capitals of the region, and is the largest city Comune, municipality in the region and in Northeast Italy, nor ...

on 25 November 1876 into a working-class family. At 16 he obtained a license from a technical institute. Then he graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan receiving a degree in mechanical engineering.

Career and activities

In 1899 Belluzzo won an award for his study on hydraulic turbines. In 1905 he established the first steam tribune of Italy. From 1914 to 1929 he was a full professor of construction of thermal and hydraulic engines at his alma mater, Polytechnic University of Milan. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

he joined the

Italian army The Italian Army ( []) is the Army, land force branch of the Italian Armed Forces. The army's history dates back to the Italian unification in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China and Italo-Turkish War, Libya. It ...

and was decorated with the war cross for his service. In the elections of 1924 and 1929 he won a seat at the Parliament, representing the Province of Verona. On 10 July 1925 Belluzzo was appointed minister of national economy to the cabinet led by Benito Mussolini. He replaced Cesare Nava in the post. In 1926 Belluzzo established the National Institute of Statistics. Belluzzo's term as minister of national economy ended on 9 July 1928, and

Alessandro Martelli Alessandro Martelli (1876–1934) was an Italian academic and politician. He served as the minister of national economy in the Mussolini Cabinet, cabinet led by Benito Mussolini between 1928 and 1929. Early life and education Martelli was bor ...

replaced him in the post. On the same day he was named as the minister of public education in the same cabinet, replacing Pietro Fedele in the post. Belluzzo held the post until 12 September 1929 when Balbino Giuliano was appointed as minister of public education. In 1929 he began to work at the school of engineering in Rome as a professor of construction of thermal and hydraulic engines. He was also made the President of the Royal Lombard Institute of Sciences and Letters. In 1934 he became a senator and served at the Senate until 1939.

Personal life and death

Belluzzo was married and had three children. He died in Rome on 21 May 1952.

Awards

Belluzzo was the recipient of the following: * Knight of the

Order of the Crown of Italy The Order of the Crown of Italy ( or OCI) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate Italian unification, the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for ...

(28 April 1907) * Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy (20 December 1914) * Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy (24 May 1917) * Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy (10 August 1923) * Grand cordon of the Order of the Crown of Italy (15 November 1925) * Knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (24 July 1919) * Commander of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (9 June 1930) * Grand cordon of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (28 January 1932) * Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau () is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has performed acts of special merits for ...

of the Netherlands (9 April 1926)Nationaal Archief, inventory 2.02.32, dossier 732, registry number 379

Legacy

Two streets are named after Giuseppe Belluzzo in Verona and Rome. In October 2016 a book, ''Giuseppe Belluzzo. Tecnico e politico nella storia d'Italia 1876–1952'', was published by Michela Minesso. The book presents the details of his life.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Belluzzo, Giuseppe 20th-century Italian engineers 1876 births 1952 deaths Deputies of Legislature XXVII of the Kingdom of Italy Deputies of Legislature XXVIII of the Kingdom of Italy Education ministers of Italy Italian mechanical engineers Italian military personnel of World War I Ministers of public works of Italy Mussolini Cabinet Politicians from Verona Recipients of the Order of the Crown (Italy) Polytechnic University of Milan alumni Academic staff of the Polytechnic University of Milan Members of the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy Recipients of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus