Rosini, Carlo Maria

Rosini, Carlo Maria, an Italian archaeologist, was born at Naples, April 1, 1748. He studied among the Jesuits, embraced the ecclesiastical life, and in 1784 became the successor of Nicolo Ignarra as professor of Holy Scripture in a college at Naples. He was canon of the Cathedral of Naples till 1792, when he was elected bishop of Pozzuoli. He was in favor with the king, and received the position of councilor of state and grand almoner, and later, under Ferdinand I, was minister of public instruction. Rosini was a member of the Academy of Herculaneum after its reorganization, and was one of the most active in deciphering ancient MSS., of which he published a great number. They are included in the Herculanensia Volumina (Naples, 1793). Rosini died at Naples, Feb. 18, 1836. His works are all on archaeological subjects, the principal one being Dissertatio Isagogica ad Herculanensium Voluminum Explanationem (ibid. 1797), a history of the destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii. See Tipaldo, Biogr. degli Ital. Illustri; Rosa [Prospero della], Vita di C.M. Rosini.