Francesco Saverio De Sanctis was one of the most important literary critics of the 19th century.

Born in Morra Irpina (today Morra De Sanctis), in the province of Avellino, on March 28th 1817, as a child he was instilled with a keen interest in language and literature.

Over the years, thanks also to his early start in teaching and numerous exchanges with many of the most culturally prominent personalities of the time, he became one of the most celebrated authors and essayists of his time.

He was the first Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1861 to 1862.

He died in Naples on December 29th 1883.

You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Avellino > Stato civile della restaurazione > Morra (today Morra De Sanctis) > 1817

The original is kept at the State Archives of Avellino

For more on the figure of Francesco De Sanctis, see the entry in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani edited by Attilio Marinari.