Michele Coppino

Michele Coppino (1 April 1822 – 25 April 1901) was an Italian politician.

Biography

Coppino was born in Alba, Piedmont into a poor family. He was professor of Italian literature at the University of Turin and rector of the same from 1868 to 1870, when he moved to Rome (which had been declared capital of the Kingdom of Italy) to follow his political roles.

He participated to the elections for the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Sardinia for the first time in 1857, but was defeated at the ballot. He was elected in 1860 and re-elected to the first legislature of the Italian Chamber of Deputies one year later. Coppino subsequently was a member of the Italian Parliament for some forty years, with a few interruptions, and was two times President of the Chamber (both times succeeding Domenico Farini).

Coppino was Minister of Education in the two first Depretis cabinets (1876-1878). He introduced the so-called Legge Coppino ("Coppino Law"), which made elementary schools mandatory and free of charge, with, in particular, no religious teaching. He was again Minister of Education under Depretis and Crispi between 1884 and 1888. Laws issued during his tenure include one for economical support for teachers, reorganization of kindergartens and of classic instructions.

He died at Alba in 1901.

Sources

• Page at Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani by Enciclopedia Italiana, biography by G. Talamo