Gualterio, Filippo Antonio

Gualterio, Filippo Antonio an Italian prelate and scholar, was born at San Quirico de Fermo, March 24, 1660. He belonged to one of the first families of Ancona. His grand- uncle sent him, in 1672, to Rome, to study at the college of Clement. Antonio studied philosophy at Rome, and law and theology at Fermo, where his grand-uncle was the archbishop. At the age of nineteen he received the degree of doctor, and about 1684 was admitted to the number of the candidates for prelates. On February 17, 1700, Innocent XII intrusted him with the nonciature to France, and Clement XI conferred on him the abbey of the Trinity, the bishopric of Tmola and Todi, and in 1799

made him cardinal with the title of Saint Chrysogonus. In France Gualterio had connected himself with the principal scholars, had examined all the monastical and other libraries, and made a fine collection of MSS. of great value, medals, both antique and modern, and instruments of rare precision; but all these literary or scientific treasures, being embarked at Marseilles, were lost on the passage. He began new researches, and succeeded in collecting a number of elements, useful for a universal history, which he proposed to write. But when he was settled down as a legate at Ravenna, the imperial troops invaded that city and pillaged his house, by which his documents were either burned or dispersed. Later, Louis XV appointed him commander of the Order of the Holy Ghost. Cardinal Gualterio, with all his literary tastes, left no writings. He died at Rome, April 21, 1728. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.