Pietro Pisani (Palermo, 1780 – Naples, 1861) was an Italian physician, politician, and academic, primarily active in Sicily during the early 19th century and the period of the Risorgimento.
Born in Palermo, Sicily, Pisani initially pursued a career in medicine, becoming a respected physician and a professor at the University of Palermo. His academic work often intertwined with his developing political interests, which were deeply rooted in the liberal and constitutional movements sweeping through Europe at the time.
Pisani rose to prominence during the Sicilian Revolution of 1848, a pivotal moment in the broader Italian Risorgimento. The revolution aimed to re-establish the independent Kingdom of Sicily and its 1812 constitution, which had been abrogated after the Congress of Vienna. During this period, Pisani played a crucial role, serving as the Minister of Finance in the provisional Sicilian government formed under Ruggero Settimo. He was instrumental in attempting to manage the island's economy and secure funds for the revolutionary cause.
After the suppression of the 1848 revolution by the Bourbons, Pisani, like many other Sicilian patriots, was forced into exile, initially fleeing to Malta and later settling in Naples. Despite the failure of the 1848 uprising, his dedication to Sicilian autonomy and constitutional governance solidified his place as an important figure in the island's political history. He remained an influential voice among the Sicilian liberal exiles until his death in Naples in 1861, the year of Italy's unification.
His life reflects the complex interplay of medical science, liberal politics, and the nationalist aspirations that characterized 19th-century Italy.