Felice Cavallotti (1842–1898), an Italian politician, poet
and dramatic author, was born at Milan on the 6th of November
1842.
In 1860 and 1866 he fought with the Garibaldian Corps,
but first attained notoriety by his anti-monarchical lampoons in
the Gazzetta di Milano and in the Gazzettina Rosa between 1866
and 1872. Elected to parliament as deputy for Corteolona in
the latter year, he took the oath of allegiance after having
publicly impugned its validity. Eloquence and turbulent, combativeness
in and out of parliament secured for him the leadership
of the extreme Left on the death of Bertani in 1886.
During his twelve years' leadership his party increased in number
from twenty to seventy, and at the time of his death his parliamentary
influence was greater than ever before.
Though ambitious
and addicted to defamatory methods of personal attack
which sometimes savoured of political blackmail, Cavallotti's
eloquent advocacy of democratic reform, and apparent generosity
of sentiment, secured for him a popularity surpassed by that of
no contemporary save Francesco Crispi. Services rendered in the cholera
epidemic of 1885, his numerous lawsuits and thirty-three duels,
his bitter campaign against Crispi, and his championship of
French interests, combined to enhance his notoriety and to
increase his political influence. By skillful alliances with the
Marquis di Rudini he more than once obtained practical control
of the Italian government, and exacted notable concessions
to Radical demands.
He was killed on the 6th of March 1898
in a duel with Count Macola , editor of the conservative Gazetta di Venezia, whom he had assailed with characteristic intemperance
of language. By his death the House of Savoy lost a relentless
foe, and the revolutionary elements in Italy a gifted,
if not entirely trustworthy, leader.