Balbo, CESARE, COUNT, an Italian statesman and author, was born 21st November 1789 at Turin.
His father enjoyed the patronage of Napoleon; consequently the son served in various capacities under the empire, and afterwards as secretary of the Sardinian embassy at London. During the years 1821-43, he produced several works of a politico-historical nature. His Speranze d'Italia ('Hopes of Italy'), published in 1843, gave a vivid and intelligent picture of the political condition of Italy. It did not aim, however, at Italian unity, but rather suggested a confederacy of independent states, under the supremacy of the pope. Balbo's adherence to the Roman Catholic Church is strongly marked in all his works. He took a prominent part as a moderate Liberal in the political movements of 1847-48. He died 3d June 1853. See Lives by Ricotti (1856) and Reuchlin (1860).