Francesco Saverio Vincenzo de Paola Nitti (1868-1953) was an Italian economist and political figure. He studied law in Napoli and was subsequently an active journalist. He was correspondent for the Gazzetta piemontese (Piedmontese Gazzette) and was one of the editors of the Corriere di Napoli (Courier of Napels). In 1891 he wrote the work Il socialismo cattolico (The Catholic-socialism). In 1898 he was appointed professor of finance at the University of Napoli. He was chosen in 1904 for the Radical Party to serve in the Italian parliament. From 1911 to 1914 he was minister of agriculture, industry and trade under Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti. In 1917 he became minister of Finance under Orlando (until 1919). On 23 June 1919 Nitti became prime minister and foreign minister. On 20 March 1920 he was also made minister of the colonies (until 21 May 1920). After his resignation he used his position as parliamentarian to offer resistance to the nascent power of fascism. He was elected to...