Orazio Di Negro

Marquis Orazio Di Negro (Genoa, 10 February 1809 – Genoa, 2 November 1872) was an Italian politician and admiral, who served as Minister of the Navy of the Kingdom of Italy in the Farini and first Minghetti governments.

Sardinian navy Orazio was the son of the Marquis Lazzaro Francesco and his wife Teresa Giustiniani. He set out on a career in the Royal Sardinian Navy. Born into an ancient family of the Genoese nobility, he entered the Genoa naval school in 1820, from which he graduated with the rank of ensign 2nd class in 1824. In 1825 he participated in the expedition against Tripoli on the frigate :it:Commercio di Genova. He rose rapidly through the ranks, being promoted to second lieutenant in 1830, lieutenant second class in 1835, first class in 1837, first lieutenant in 1839, and captain second class in 1842. He was awarded the silver medal for military valor for having contributed to the rescue of the crew of the Greek brig Alessandro, shipwrecked in a storm in the port of Genoa.

Commander of the pyrocorvette Tripoli during the First Italian War of Independence, he made his mark during the expedition of the small Sardinian team in the Adriatic (1848-49), in particular in the operations in the port of Piran, where he managed to free a Venetian vessel captured by the Austrians under fire from enemy batteries, and for which he was awarded the second silver medal for military valor. Promoted to frigate captain in 1848, he became second class captain the following year and first class in 1852, assuming command of the Sardinian fleet sailing in the Mediterranean. but was rarely present in the Senate due to his health. and died in Genoa on 2 November 1872.