Astronomer, b. at Macerata, States of the Church, 19 May, 1805;
d. at London, England, 15 Nov., 1848. Entering the Society of
Jesus at San Andrea, Rome, and showing peculiar aptitude for
mathematics and astronomy, he was appointed professor of these
branches at the Roman Collega and assistant to the director of
the observatory, Father Dumouchel, whom he succeeded as director
in 1839. Under his direction the observatory acquired a European
reputation, and his labours in astronomy made him famous.
Science owes to him many important discoveries. Unwearied in
activity, he held correspondence with the most celebrated
astronomers, and was a frequent contributor to scientific
publications. He was a charter member of the Italian Society of
Science, and was elected to membership in many scientific
societies at home and abroad. He received the Lalande prizes of
the French academy, and six times won the gold medal offered by
the King of Denmark to the first discoverer of a telescopic
comet. One of these medals is in the