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He was born at Carpineto, near Anagni, March 2, 1810. He was nuncio to Belgium 1843-45; was made archbishop of Perugia 1845; cardinal 1853; supreme pontiff March 3, 1878. He opened the Vatican archives to scholars desiring to examine them for purposes of historical research. Two of his "Encyclical Letters" are worthy of special mention; viz., that to "All Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops", etc., on "The Condition of Labor" (1891), and that to "The English People" on "Church Unity" (1895). He is author of a small volume of lyrics in Latin: "Lyric Poems[Carmina] of Leo XIII., Supreme Pontiff" (1883). Died July 20, 1903.