Antonio Panizzi

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Introduction

Sir Antonio Panizzi, 19th c. Italian patriot & librarian

Panizzi reading room at the British Library

See also Canadian Health Librarians - Leaders, Past and Present and Famous librarians in history

Sir Antonio Genesio Maria Panizzi (1797 – 1879), the prince of librarians, was born in Brescello, Italy. He obtained his law degree from the University of Parma in 1818. There, he probably joined one of the secret patriotic societies that were so popular in occupied Italy at the time. Although Panizzi practiced law in 1821 he became an inspector of schools. By 1822, he fled Italy to avoid arrest as a revolutionary; after living in Liverpool for a time, he established himself as a professor of Italian language and literature at University College, London (1828–37). Later, Panizzi became an assistant at the British Museum where he eventually rose to principal librarian in 1856. Panizzi was responsible for reorganizing the Library and improving its collections. During his administration, he improved the catalogue, enforced the Copyright Act and wrote reports about how to improve libraries for researchers. Through his friendship with Thomas Grenville he secured an endowment for books in 1846. Although Panizzi became a British citizen, he continued to further the cause of Italian freedom from afar. After Italian reunification, he declined offers from Garibaldi and others to return to Italy. He was knighted in 1869 and received honorary degrees from Oxford, the Légion d'Honneur and chivalric honours from Italy. In 1879, Panizzi died in London and was laid to rest in the Kensal Green Catholic Cemetery. During his time at the British Museum, he published editions of Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato and Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. The Panizzi lectures are hosted annually and deal with bibliographic topics of interest at the British Library. In his honour, the staff room at the British Library is called the Panizzi Room.