Giuseppe Mazzoni was born in Prato, on the 16th of December 1808 of a noble family. He started his education under the tuition of the canonical Giuseppe Silvestri, and later attended the Saint Caterina College in Pisa. It was in this city, in the local university, that he graduated in Law. From an early age he had been sensitive to the patriotic appeal that Giuseppe Mazzini instigated to the Italian people (because Italy was not yet a Nation). Mazzoni was busy with an intense clandestine activity for the "Giovane Italia" (the secret society founded by Mazzini) that he was conducting in Florence. Since 1832, he had also been working as a lawyer in the office of another supporter of the "Giovane Italia", the lawyer Venturi. In 1835 he joined, together with Atto Vannucci, of the Pratese "Accademia degli Infecondi"; here he carried out intense charitable welfare activity and later he was engaged in more and more political initiatives (both in Prato and Florence) that culminated in the patriotic revolts from 1847-1849. Together with Piero Cironi he promoted the Pratese section of the "Associazione Nazionale" and with Atto Vannucci who worked for the journal "L'Alba" , he contributed with his intelligent and assiduous appointment, to sensitise the opinion of the country on the fundamental themes of liberty and of National Independence. During March 1848 he enlisted in a volunteer army, that was initially meant to help the one in Lombardia, but that instead stopped in Modena to support the rebellion after Francesco V. Rientrato had been driven out of power. At the end of April he was returned to Prato, where he was the animator of the local "Circolo del Popolo" (Circle of the People). In June 1848, he was elected Deputy for the General Council, where he often talked about the needs of the country (their defence from the foreigners), and he attacked the equivocal behaviour of the Parliament. In October he was called by Giuseppe Montanelli to uphold the new democratic government's Ministry of Justice (28th October). He was re-elected Deputy again in the elections on the 20th November, and following the escape of the Grand Duke (on the 8th of February 1849) he became Triumviro of Tuscany, together with Montanelli and Guerrazzi. So Mazzoni had been in power during the most critical years in Tuscany. He always maintained the liberation from foreigners, and promoted an "Assemblea Costituente", to create a Republic, joining Tuscany with Rome. The "Assemblea" was unanimously elected on the 13th of March, but was not able to follow any clear programme. With the coming of the restoration on the 12th of April 1849, Mazzoni had to escape from Italy. His exile lasted ten years. He fled first to Marsiglia and then to Paris, together with Atto Vannucci; and later stayed in Madrid, where he was a private tutor in a noble family. While he was in Paris (1849-1858), he maintained his political ideals, often in controversy with Montanelli and others who were content with the unity of the central territories of Italy. After an attempted rebellion, that Mazzini organised in Milan, the republican party was divided, Mazzoni however, was able to unite, all the republican forces. In September 1858, both tired and disheartened, he moved to Madrid. From here he heard the good news of the Tuscan events of April 1859. He re-entered Tuscany, where the conservative and moderates were in the majority, and stood as the candidate for the democratic party, in Prato, at the 7th of August elections for the new "Assemblea Nazionale". He was amongst those that during the sitting on the 16th of August, had declared to no longer enforce the Austro-Lorenese dynasty. However, he was against the annexation to the Piemonte, believing that the Tuscan people should have the right to choose their way, with free discussions in the "Assemblea costituente". Mazzoni was loved by his people. They used to call him the "Tuscan Caton"; but he had to face the new reality of the state in which his country was: Italy was one Nation, but the unity was obtained by the moderates that were now in government, and who rejected the ideals of Freedom and Democracy. So again he was a promoter of the workers' struggles and was part of the Freemasonry. He died in Prato on the 11th of May 1880.