Quintino Sella

1827
He was born in Sella di Mosso (Biella) from a wealthy family of the wool industry.
In addition to his scientific studies, he developed a natural inclination towards classical studies and Dante. He studied German and Latin.,
He practiced sports (alpinism, swimming, fencing, horse-riding).

1847
He graduated in Hydraulic Engineering in Turin.
The Minister of Home Affairs of the Savoy Kingdom, L. Des Ambrois, sent him and  F. Giordano to specialize their studies at the  École des Mines of Paris as officers of the R. Corpo delle Miniere.
He attended lessons of the most distinguished scholars of the time.
Following the advice of his mentor de Sénarmont, Sella specialized in Crystallography, publishing important monographs.
During the 5 years  he spent abroad, he made several reconnaissance travels to Germany – in the Harz and in Prussia, visiting mines and forests, working as coal merchant and studying the local policies. He also went to England, where he came into contact with several foreign scientists and industrialists.

1848
He returned to Italy to participate in the revolution. He contributed to the revision of the Statuto Albertino (Albertine Statute) for the structural renewal of the Savoy Kingdom.

1851
He visited the Universal Exhibition of Paris with F. Giordano.

1852
Having completed his studies, he permanently returned to Italy.
Together with B. Gastaldi he redrew and developed the museum plant at the Valentino castle.
He became Professor of Applied Geometry at the Istituto Tecnico di Torino al Valentino (which he transformed into Scuola di Applicazione per Ingegneri and which became a Polytechnic in 1906). He introduced axonometric projections, the slide rule and mathematical crystallography in Italy.

1853
Up to October he was the regent of the Mineral District of  Savoy.
From November he became a substitute Professor of Mathematics at the Royal University of Turin.

1854
He invented the electromagnetic grading machine to separate copper minerals of magnetite as well as a device to measure friction.

1856
He became 2nd Class Engineer of the R. Corpo delle Miniere.
He was appointed in charge of the Mineral District of Turin and regent of Cuneo, which at the end of the year was given over to Eng. Perazzi who had returned from the École des Mines of Paris.
He became Director of the Mineralogical Cabinet of the Istituto Tecnico and from 1853, together with B. Gastaldi, he rearranged the Barelli Collection (4,000 specimens) coming from the Ministry of Home Affairs of Piemonte and enriching it with his own Collection, for a total of 18,000 specimens.

1857
He was appointed for the rapid realization of Alpine tunnels with compressed air drills as instructed by Cavour. After experimenting with Gattoni, Grandis and Sommelier at the Coscia Quarry (in Genoa) the 12-km Frejus tunnel with a dead hole was successfully realized.
He promoted the electro-grading machine in the copper-bearing mine of Traversina. He was member of the techincal commission for the construction of the steelworks in Elba.

1858
He became 1st Class Engineer of the Mineral District of Turin.

1859
He was appointed Secretary General for Public Education of Piedmont, under Minister Casati, who introduced the law on obligatory, free,  non-denominational primary school education.

1861
Turin Capital City of Italy
He was elected member of Parliament. Member of the Mine Council.
He became Professor of Mineralogy and Organizer of the Mineralogical Museum at the Scuola di Applicazione Tecnica, where he applied French and German models. Here he studied and enriched the Barelli Collection with his assistants Gastaldi (who replaced him when he definintely dedicated himself to politics) and Stüver.

1861
In agreement with F. Cordova, Minister of Agricultre, Industry and Trade (Ricasoli Government, 1861-62) and F. Giordano, he established the direction of the Geological Map of Italy at the Mineralogical and Geological Museum.
Cordova invited him to visit the main geological institutes abroad. His report entitled “Sul modo di fare la Carta Geologica d’Italia” (1862), published at the end of this year described the general plan for the project’s execution. He ordered the mapping of the whole Geological Map of Italy at a large-scale (1:50,000), which was commissioned to geologists of the R. Corpo delle Miniere, under the scientifical direction of the Mine Council, composed of geologists.

1862
He was appointed Minister of Finance (Rattazzi Government, 1862). In order to put the balance right he even blocked funds for the Geological Map of Italy.

1863
He founded the Alpine Club of Italy after having climbed the Monviso with Baracco and Saint Robert. He remained President of the Club for his whole life.

1864
At the Naturalists’ Congress in Biella, with B. Gastaldi and G. Berruti he prepared the Geological Map of Biella accompanied by explanatory notes.

1865
Florence Capital City of Italy.
He was appointed Minister of Finance (Lamarmora Government, 1863-65). To put the State balance right (the debt was very high also due to the high cost of the Independence Wars) he cut all funds including the ones for the Geological Map of Italy.

1866
On the occasion of the annexation of Veneto,  he was the Royal Commissioner for the reorganization of the Province of Udine.
He became the Vice President of the Council.

1867
He established the Geological Committee of Italy. He became one of the most passionate promoters of Rome capital city.

1868
He created the Executive Committee of the Geological Map of Italy in Florence, who was directed by I. Cocchi.

1869
He was appointed Minister of Finance and Public Education for 1872 (Lanza Government, 1869-73). He was Chief Member of Parliament for the historical Right-Wing, even after its fall.

1870
Rome Capital City of Italy
He sought the agreement with the Vatican, promoting the “Guarantee Act”, approved in 1871 but totally rejected by Pius IX.

1873
He became the President of the Accademia dei Lincei, and in 1883 obtained the purchase of the Corsini Palace from Father Tommaso Corsini, Duke of Casigliano, for the Academy’s seat. Under his leadership, the Academy transformed into an international institute and became a very prestigious European scientific centre, open even to the activities and collaboration of foreign scientists. 
The Scientific Committee of the Geological Map of Italy transferred to Rome and the organization of 1861 was resumed with the assistance of geologists of the R. Corpo delle Miniere, but the means and financial resources were limited.

1876-77 
He climbed the Cervino with his sons.

1881
He was the President of Honour at the International Congress of Geology of Bologna. Together with Capellini, he promoted the foundation of the Geological Society of Italy.

1884
He died in Biella.
He was the Father of the Geological Map of Italy, President of the Accademia dei Lincei, Founder of the Alpine Club of Italy.
He was among the most prestigious political exponents of the historical Right-Wing and stood out for his versatile culture.. He wrote many very famous monographs and scientific publications. His political activity related to the industrialization of the Kingdom of Italy and the development of the Geological Map of Italy is closely related to the works of Felice Giordano.
To acknowledge his scientifical merits Strüver, named a mineral (Sellaite) and Lovisati a fossile (Clipeaster Sellai) after him.  For his Alpine merits the explorer De Agostini gave his name to the Monte Sella in the Great Island of the Tierra del Fuego.