 He graduated in 1834 in mathematics and became professor of mechanics and hydraulics in 1848.He was actively committed in the political affairs of the Italian unification movement and in 1849 took part in the establishment of the Roman Republic.He was appointed secretary of the Assemblea Costituente (constituent assembly) and was the author of the "Decreto Fondamentale" ("Fundamental Decree") which on February 9, 1849 declared the temporal government of the Pope as forfeited and proclaimed the Republic.