March 24, 2011
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Luigi Einaudi, Cavaliere di Gran Croce decorato di Gran Cordone OMRI (March 24, 1874 – October 30, 1961) was an Italian politician and economist. He served as the second President of the Italian Republic between 1948 and 1955.

 Einaudi was born in Carrù, in the province of Cuneo, Piemonte. He completed his university studies in Turin, where he became acquainted with socialist ideas and collaborated with the magazine Critica sociale, directed by the socialist leader Filippo Turati. In 1895 he graduated in jurisprudence, and was later appointed as professor in the University of Turin, the Polytechnic University of Turin and the Bocconi University of Milan.

From the early 20th century Einaudi moved increasingly towards a more conservative stance. In 1919 he was named Senator of the Kingdom of Italy. He also worked as a journalist for important Italian newspapers such as La Stampa and Il Corriere della Sera, as well as being financial correspondent for The Economist. An anti-fascist, he stopped working for Italian newspapers from 1926, under the Fascist regime, resuming his professional relationship with the Corriere della Sera after the fall of the regime in 1943. After the Armistice (September 8, 1943) he fled to Switzerland, returning to Italy in 1944.

Einaudi was Governor of the Bank of Italy from January 5, 1945 until May 11, 1948, and was also a founding member of the Consulta Nazionale which opened the way to the new Parliament of the Italian Republic after World War II. Later he was Minister of Finances, Treasury and Balance, as well as Vice-Premier, in 1947 - 1948.

On May 11, 1948 he was elected the second President of the Italian Republic (after Enrico De Nicola). At the end of the seven year term of office in 1955 he became Life Senator.

Einaudi was a member of numerous cultural, economic and university institutions. He was a supporter of the ideal of European Federalism. He also personally managed the activities of his farm near Dogliani, where he applied the most advanced agricultural developments.

Luigi Einaudi died in Rome in 1961.

Both his son Giulio, a prominent Italian publisher, and his grandson, Ludovico, a minimalist composer, have subsequently made names for themselves. Another son, Mario, was a Cornell University professor and active anti-fascist. The Mario Einaudi Center For International Studies is named after him. Additionally, Luigi founded the Fondazione Luigi Einaudi in Turin in honor of his father.