Achille Lauro | |
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Mayor of Naples | |
In office 9 July 1952 – 6 January 1958 | |
Preceded by | Domenico Moscati |
Succeeded by | Nicola Sansanelli |
In office 4 February 1961 – 29 November 1961 | |
Preceded by | Nicola Sansanelli |
Succeeded by | Vincenzo Maria Palmieri |
Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
In office 12 June 1958 – 4 June 1968 | |
In office 25 May 1972 – 19 June 1979 | |
Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
In office 25 June 1953 – 12 June 1958 | |
In office 4 June 1968 – 25 May 1972 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Piano di Sorrento, Italy | 16 June 1887
Died | 15 November 1982 Naples, Italy | (aged 95)
Political party | PNF (1939–1943) PNM (1946–1954) PMP (1954–1959) PDIUM (1959–1972) MSI (1972–1977) DN (1977–1979) |
Spouse | Angelina Lauro |
Residence(s) | Naples, Italy |
Profession | Politician Entrepreneur |
Nickname | "Il Comandante" |
Achille Lauro (Italian pronunciation: [aˈkille ˈlauro]; 16 June 1887 – 15 November 1982) was an Italian businessman and politician. He is widely considered one of the main precursors of modern populism in Italian politics. He was nicknamed by his supporters Il Comandante ("The Commander").[1]
Biography
[edit]Born the fifth of six children of the shipowner Gioacchino and of Laura Cafiero, he was on his part the shipowner and founder of the "Flotta Lauro", based in Southern Italy.
During the decades of Italian Fascist dictatorship (1922–1943), he became a member of the National Fascist Party (PNF) and was named National Counselor of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations, appointed to this position by Galeazzo Ciano, son-in-law of Benito Mussolini himself, who was active in shipping commerce. Also during this period he was named president of the Naples football club SSC Napoli, where he succeeded Giorgio Ascarelli.
After the end of World War II, following an initial participation in the Common Man's Front, he became active in the Italian monarchist movement led by Alfredo Covelli and financially supported the foundation of the Monarchist National Party (PNM), and was for a long time the mayor of Naples.
In 1972, he joined the neo-fascist party Italian Social Movement (MSI).[2] A square in the coastal town of Sorrento is named after him.
References
[edit]- Achille Della Ragione. Achille Lauro superstar: la vita, l'impero, la leggenda. Napoli, 2003.
- Serena Romano. Don Achille, 'o comandante. Milano, 1992.
- Pietro Zullino. Il Comandante. Milano, 1976.