I. Carlo, an Italian scholar, born at Oneglia, March 13, 1741, died in Milan, March 24, 1816. In 1757 he joined the order of St. Augustine, and some years later became professor of canon law in the university of Parma; but in 1772 he obtained a dispensation from his monastic vows, and entered the ranks of the secular clergy. He was appointed curator of the Ambrosian library at Milan in 1797, and was the first to make known its treasures to the world. He published from the manuscripts in this collection voyages of Pigafetta and Ferrer Maldonado; wrote an excellent life of Leonardo da Vinci, from original materials; and prepared several treatises on natural science. His Nuova scelta d'opuscoli interessanti sulle scienze e sidle arti (27 vols. 4to, 1775-'88) familiarized the Italians with the scientific progress of other nations.

II. Maria Pellegrina, niece of the preceding, who bestowed great pains upon her education, born at Oneglia in 1750, died in 1787. At the age of 16 she sustained, in public, arguments on various topics in philosophy. She studied law, and at the age of 21 graduated at Pavia, and received from the university her doctor's diploma. She wrote a treatise on Roman law, which was published after her death.