Luigi Gaetano Marini

Luigi Gaetano Marini (born in Sant'Arcangelo (pagus Acerbotanus), 18 December 1742; died Paris, 7 May 1815) was a natural philosopher, jurist, historian and archeologist. 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 jure (in both branches of law). He went to Rome in December, 1764, where he gained the friendship of Cardinal Alessandro Albani and Giuseppe 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 Castel Sant'Angelo, as well as that of president of the Vatican Museum and the Vatican Library. On 18 August 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 Roman Curia were carried off to Paris by Napoleon, he accompanied them, and reached Paris, 11 April 1810. After Napoleon's fall the Count of Artois, viceregent and brother of the king, issued a decree on 9 April 1814, directing the restitution to the Holy See of the archives, of all documents and Manuscripts, and of several other collections. On 28 April the papal commissioners, Mgr. de Gregorio, Mgr. 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 in Paris.

He was master of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, possessed great legal knowledge, and took up questions of natural philosophy. His great work on papyrus records is a standard work on the investigation of papyri. His book on the Arval Brethren of ancient Rome brought to light so much that was new, and its appearance created a stir. His classification of five thousand inscriptions, both Christian and heathen, in the Galleria Lapidaria at the Vatican, earned for him the honorary title of "Restorer" of Latin epigraphics. Marini was a cleric, but not a priest. He often prayed for hours before the Blessed Sacrament, and went to communion three times a week. During his residence in Paris he gave away alms to the extent of 3000 scudi (dollars).

References

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Luigi Gaetano Marini". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.. Cites sources:
  • MARINO MARINI. Degli. Aneddoti di Gaetano Marini: Commentario di suo nipote (Rome, 1822);
  • MORONI, Dizionarzo di Erudizione Storico-Ecclesiatica, IV, 286;
  • MARINO MARINI, Memorie Storiche dell' occupazione e restitutione degli Archivii della S. Sede e del riacquisto de' Codici e Museo Numismatico del Vaticano e de' Manoscritti e parte del Museo di Storia Naturale di Bologna (Rome, 1885)