Canobbio Alessandro

Alessandro Canobbio, a native of Milan, was first active in the wool manufacture and trade at Verona and was for several years head of the local wool spinning mill. But he was more attracted by the profession of a notary and obtained his patent in 1562. He then worked for the city administration in various important positions. In 1570 he became secretary to Niccolò Ormaneto, bishop of Verona. Between 1572 and 1577 he resided for longer periods at Padua, where he wrote an account of the plague, which ravaged there in 1576. He also wrote a history of the academies of Verona (1571, reprinted in 1590) and a Discorso a i presidenti della carità di Verona (1572), on poor relief. From 1589 to 1596 he helped to organize several archives, public and private. His last major work was a code of behavior for the true Christian with advice on the conjugal life, the education of children, the employment of money and social intercourse.