Cesare, marchese de Beccaria-Bonesana 

He was educated in the Jesuit college at Parma, and showed at first a great aptitude for mathematics. The study of Montesquieu seems to have directed his attention towards economic questions; and his first publication (1762) was a tract on the derangement of the currency in the Milanese states, with a proposal for its remedy. Shortly after, in conjunction with his friends the Verris, he formed a literary society, and began to publish a small journal, in imitation of the Spectator, called Il Caffe.

In 1764 he published his brief but justly celebrated treatise Dei Delitti e delle Pene ("On Crimes and Punishments"). The weighty reasonings of this work were expounded with all the additional force of a clear and animated style. It pointed out distinctly and temperately the grounds of the right of punishment, and from these principles deduced certain propositions as to the nature and amount of punishment which should be inflicted for any crime. The book had a surprising success. Within eighteen months it passed through six editions. It was translated into French by Morellet in 1766, and published with an anonymous commentary by Voltaire. An English translation appeared in 1768 and it was translated into several other languages.

Many of the reforms in the penal codes of the principal European nations are traceable to Beccaria's treatise. In November 1768 he was appointed to the chair of law and economy, which had been founded expressly for him at the Palatine college of Milan. His lectures on political economy, which are based on strict utilitarian principles, are in marked accordance with the theories of the English school of economists. They are published in the collection of Italian writers on political economy (Scrittori Classici Italiani di Economia politica, vols. xi. and xii.).

In 1771 Beccaria was made a member of the supreme economic council; and in 1791 he was appointed one of the board for the reform of the judicial code. In this post his labours were of very great value. He died at Milan on the 28th of November 1794.

This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.

So great a lady would have match'd herself Bears himself much too cruel. SECOND PILGRIM. They are banish'd. FIRST PILGRIM. But I would ask what power hath this state How that the Pope, fore-hearing of her looseness, The dukedom which she held as dowager. FIRST PILGRIM. But by what justice? SECOND PILGRIM. Sure, I think by none, Off from her finger? SECOND PILGRIM. 'Twas her wedding-ring; To his revenge. FIRST PILGRIM. Alas, Antonio! No matter who sets hand to 't, his own weight Fortune makes this conclusion general, Exeunt. Lightens in great men's breath. DUCHESS. Is all our train Which have got little in your service, vow Now they are fledg'd, are gone. DUCHESS. They have done wisely. With their hands full of money, use to give o'er >From decay'd fortunes every flatterer shrinks; And on a sudden all the diamonds Is, you 'll weep shortly; for to me the pearls On the wild benefit of nature live And carol their sweet pleasures to the spring. [Enter BOSOLA with a letter] BOSOLA. You are happily o'erta'en. DUCHESS. From my brother.html">brother? BOSOLA. Yes, from the Lord Ferdinand your brother Would'st make it white. See, see, like to calm weather To those they intend most mischief. A politic equivocation! That is, he cannot sleep till you be dead. With roses; mark it, 'tis a cunning one: 'I stand engaged for your husband for several debts at Naples: .

 On wordlookup.net  

All is still licensed under the GNU FDL.
It uses material from the wikipedia.