Severino Casana

Biography Severino was the son of the Turin banker Alessandro Casana (appointed baron in 1853) and Teresa Cobianchi, sister of the businessman and philanthropist :it:Lorenzo Cobianchi.

In 1863 he graduated in civil engineering, subsequently working at the Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali from 1865 to 1868, when he launched his own professional practice as an engineer and architect.

Political career He served as a city councilor of Turin from 1883, and was also elected to the Chamber of Deputies from 1890 to 1898. In 1898, having been chosen as mayor of Turin, he left the Chamber of Deputies but soon after on 1 May 1898 he was appointed senator.

Giolitti ensured that the Commission of Inquiry was made up of reliable and independent men like Casana who had no military experience. The Commission expanded its investigation by seeking to determine what level of funding was necessary to secure a reliable military for the country, and what reforms the army itself might require. Its conclusion was that the existing military organisation was fit for purpose, and simply needed better funding. By the time it reached this conclusion however, Giolitti had invited Casana to serve as War Minister and he had resigned from it. The longstanding lack of coordination between the government and the army remained however; while the ministers answered to parliament, the Army and Navy Chiefs of Staff reported directly to the king. The reformed Supreme Defence Commission apparently met only twice before Italy entered the First World War.

Honours