Goffredo Mameli

poet

Goffredo Mameli (1827-1849) was an Italian patriot, poet, writer and a notable figure in the Risorgimento. He is also the author of the lyrics of "Il Canto degli Italiani", the national anthem of Italy.
Mameli was deeply involved in nationalist movements and some more "spectacular" actions are remembered, such as his exposition of the Tricolore (current Italian flag, then prohibited) to celebrate the expulsion of Austrians in 1846.
During the siege of Rome, he was an aide of Giuseppe Garibaldi, where he was wounded in the left leg by the French. It was decided to amputate the leg; despite this, an infection gradually increased to the point of causing death by sepsis, on 6 July 1849, at the age of 21.