Life chronology

Born in Nice on 4 July, subject of Napoleon I. His father was originally from Chiavari and his mother from Loano. 
Self-taught, he occupies himself mainly with mathematics, astronomy and geography. 
Having contact with the sailors in the port of Nice, he learns all the secrets of sailing.

Enrols in the register of sailors in Nice

Completes his first voyage to Odessa aboard the vessel "Costanza"; then on the "Santa Reparata", belonging to his father he sails around the French coast. The following year he arrives at Fiumicino. From here he visits Rome where he stays for a month.

As a sailor he travels mainly in the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, on sailing ships of about 200 tons. In 1827 he gets as far as the Canary Islands. On the "Clorinda" he meets the "sansimoniani" (a movement based on the political-economic doctrines of C. H. de Saint-Simon) then, at Taganrog, Giambattista Cuneo who started 'Young Italy' (1832). 
He probably meets Mazzini in Marseilles in the summer of 1833.

Joins the Sardinian navy; Mazzini entrusts him with the task of organising an insurrection in Genoa, in connection with a revolt in Savoy. The project fails; helped by some of the population he flees to Nice, then Marseilles and travels on to the court of the Beys of Tripoli.

Lives in South America. Fights in defence of the Republic of the 'Rio Grande do Sul' against the Brazilian Empire and the Republic of Uruguay and against the Argentine dictator Rosas; in 1839 he meets Anita whom he marries 1842. From the marriage Rosita, Menotti, Teresita and Ricciotti are later born.

Offers his services to the Pope. On hearing of the reforms of Pius IX and Carlo Alberto he returns to Italy (April 1848) on the vessel "Bifronte", which he renames "Speranza". He arrives in Nice in the summer, then goes to Genoa with 63 followers. Received enthusiastically (3 July). Goes to Roverbella, the headquarters of Carlo Alberto and meets the King who is a little reluctant to make use of him. In Milan the provisional government entrusts him with a detachment of 1500 men with whom he operates on Lake Maggiore, even after the armistice of Salasco. Forced to surrender to Radetzky and returns to Nice. He then goes to Tuscany and in the Papal State where, after the flight of Pius IX the Roman Republic is installed. Elected deputy to the Constituting Assembly. Enters the 'Campidoglio' on 5 February and organises the army. In Rome the triumvirate of Mazzini - Saffi - Armellini is formed. Pius IX calls on France, Austria, Spain and the Bourbons of Naples for help. In April the French reached Civitavecchia; on 30 April Garibaldi repulses their attack on Rome. He then defeats the Neapolitans on 9 May at Palestrina and again on 9 May at Velletri. On 1 June the armistice with the French expires, is renewed but betrayed by Oudinot. On 2 June the enemy attacks Villa Corsini, 'Casino dei Quattro Venti' and Villa Pamphili, strategic points in the defence of Rome; only the outpost of Vascello resists under the command of Giacomo Medici. Garibaldi flees from Rome, which falls on 2 July, followed by four armies. On 1 August he arrives at Cesenatico, embarks some volunteers on a vessel on 13 August in order to liberate Venice. On reaching Magnavacca near to Goro he is forced by the Austrians to seek refuge on land. This is the beginning of Garibaldi's flight (the 'trafila') in Romagna. On 4 August Anita dies in the Guiccioli farm near Ravenna. He begins writing his memories.

Second exile; in September of 1849 he is arrested at Chiavari and taken to a Genoa. He then sails for Tunis and Tangiers where he remains for 6 months. He travels on to New York, is received by the Italian community and socialist exiles from France and England. Works in the candle factory of Antonio Meucci. Becomes a navy captain again, travels around central America, the Far East as far as China and Australia. While returning to Italy he stops at London where he meets Mazzini.

Arrives at Genoa during the cholera epidemic and volunteers to give help. Disagrees with Mazzini (revolts of 1854, Crimean War). Begins building himself a house at Caprera (1855). As a first class captain he begins small cabotage voyages.

Plans an incursion on the island of Santo Stefano, where Neapolitan political prisoners are being kept with funds provided by exiles in England (Panizzi), to which he then goes to make agreements directly. Refuses the command of the expedition then led by Pisacane (1857). Meets Cavour for the first time in Turin and supports the National Society which has as a motto "Italy and Victor Emanuel".

 Cavour assigns him the organisation or a volunteer army. Garibaldi's hymn is written in Genoa at the house of Camozzi. 
After the declaration of war on Austria he is nominated general of the Sardinian army; he operates in the area of Lakes Maggiore and Como in command of the 'Cacciatori delle Alpi'. Together with him are Bixio, Cosenz, Türr and his son Menotti. Actions against the Croatians of general Urban, winning at Varese and San Fermo, enters Bergamo and Brescia. After the armistice of Villafranca, accepts the position of second in command of the army of the Central Italian League under Manfredo Fanti. 
Launches the appeal for "a million rifles" to liberate Italy.

On 24 January he marries and repudiates the Marquise Giuseppina Raimondi all on the same day. The marriage is annulled only in 1879. Becomes a grand master of the masons; returns to Genoa, closing the breach with Mazzini's followers due to the cessation of Nice. As a parliamentary deputy he wishes to organise a revolt to obstruct the "referendum" on the annexation to France. Crispi convinces him to support a revolt that Mazzini's followers have organised in Sicily. 5 May: departure of the "Piemonte" and "Lombardo". The expedition of the "Thousand" begins: 6 May disembarkation at a Talamone and diversion of Callimaco Zambianchi against the Papal State. 11 May: disembarkation at Marsala. At Salemi he assumes dictatorship in the name of Victor Emanuel. 15 May: battle at Calatafimi; 27 May: enters Palermo. Disagreement with Cavour who wants to annex Sicily immediately. On the way to Messina: victory at Milazzo (21 July).Francesco II withdraws to Gaeta. Meanwhile Cavour organises an expedition to hinder the consolidation of Garibaldi's power who is now governing the entire Kingdom of Naples. While the soldiers of Piedmont beat the papal army at Castelfidardo, Garibaldi, on 2 October, faces the Bourbon army with 20.000 men, defeating them at Volturno. At Caianello, near Teano, he meets Victor Emanuel. Garibaldi withdraws and the army region besieges Gaeta which falls in the February of 1861. On 7 November enters Naples with the King and on 9 November embarks for Caprera.

1861

18 February: Garibaldi at Parliament in Turin has a disagreement with Cavour on the question of the southern army. He is offered a command in the United States army under Lincoln; he refuses on account of the slave policies of this president.

In March he attends the Committee conference in Genoa for the liberation of Rome and Venice; the emancipation society is formed with Garibaldi as President. At Turin he meets Vittorio Emanuel. Sarnico incident: Garibaldi's followers are arrested as they were preparing an incursion into the Trento region. In June he leaves for Sicily to organise an expedition towards Rome. On 29 August he is stopped on the Aspromonte by detachments of the Italian army commanded by colonel Pallavicini; Garibaldi is wounded and taken prisoner to Varignano, near La Spezia. Released, he returns to Caprera, where he remains throughout the year of 1863 due to the wound received.

In April he goes to London where he is given a triumphal reception. He meets Palmerston; visits Mazzini and the European revolutionaries in exile there.

In the third war of independence he has command of the volunteer corps; his field of action is the area between Verona and the Tyrol with the task of preventing new Austrian troops from entering Italy. After the defeat of the 'royals' at Custoza, Garibaldi is forced to retreat in spite of his victories of Monte Suello and Bezzecca. Sends the telegram: "I obey".

The attack on Rome is organised. Rattazzi has him arrested and kept prisoner at Caprera, from where he manages to escape and reach Tuscany. He joins his volunteers and leads the attack on Rome; on 25 October he has a victory at Monterotondo, but at Mentana he is defeated by the modern "chassepots" of the French. Arrested yet again he is taken to Varignano, then to Caprera, where he remains for three years. He writes "Clelia" or the government of the priests.

Publishes “Cantoni il volontario”.

Franco-Prussian war: Garibaldi runs to the aid of the 3rd Republic; has command of the Vosges army, consisting of 10.000 franc tireurs with the job of co-operating with the regular forces of general Cambrie in the eastern sector. At Dijon he defeats the Prussians (21-23 January 1871). Franco-Prussian armistice; Garibaldi, although elected deputy in the department of the Seine returns to Caprera. Declines an invitation to help the municipality although showing solidarity with the uprising in Paris. Joins the International movement of 1864.

Franco-Prussian war: Garibaldi runs to the aid of the 3rd Republic; has command of the Vosges army, consisting of 10.000 franc tireurs with the job of co-operating with the regular forces of general Cambrie in the eastern sector. At Dijon he defeats the Prussians (21-23 January 1871). Franco-Prussian armistice; Garibaldi, although elected deputy in the department of the Seine returns to Caprera. Declines an invitation to help the municipality although showing solidarity with the uprising in Paris. Joins the International movement of 1864.

Publishes “The Thousand”.

Elected deputy; presents a project to reclaim the Agro Pontino marsh and make the Tiber navigable.

1879 - 82

Founds the Democratic League with the programme of universal suffrage, confiscates church property and abolishes the standing army. Marries Francesca Armosino; in the registry office records he declares himself to be a farmer. Travels to Sicily and Calabria, then stops at Caprera until his death on 2 June 1882.