Piero Ginori Conti
Encyclopedia
Piero Ginori Conti, Prince of Trevignano, (Florence, June 3, 1865 - Florence, December 3, 1939) was a businessman and Italian politician.
Son of Gino Ginori Conti and Pauline Fabbri, an old aristocratic family of Florence, Piero Ginori Conti married in 1894 Adriana de Larderel (1872–1925), daughter of Count Florestan - nephew of François - and his cousin Marcella de Larderel and heir to one of the most significant assets in Tuscany.
extraction firm founded by his wife's great-grandfather in Larderello
, and took the establishment in a new direction, with the use of natural steam to produce electricity. His business plan was: improving the quality of products, with increased production and lower prices, and exploitation of natural dry steam geysers to produce electricity. On July 4, 1904 at Larderello, Prince Piero Ginori Conti powered five bulbs from a dynamo driven by a reciprocating steam engine using geothermal power
. This system improved to the point that in 1916 it distributed 2750 kW of electricity in the entire area surrounding the village. With a new international reputation, Larderello was visited by Marie Curie
during the First World War.
In 1912, he succeeded his father-in-law, who had no male heirs, as the majority shareholder of the family business. This year sees the installation of the first geothermal power plant in Larderello, and the merger of three companies competing in the production of boric acid into a new company, the Società Boracifera di Larderello. This restructuring strengthens the family's control of the company's stock and compensates for the increasingly stiff competition from America and the decline of boric acid production.
, of whom the Ginori Conti / Larderel families were big supporter.
The first general campaign in favor of the strike by Castelnuovo
in Larderello broke out in 1915, in spite of the care that "prince-father," faithful to the principles of Larderel, offered to the wives and children of the workers on the battlefront. After the war, in which his children and wife (a nurse) served, the first strike hit the various establishments in the Larderello S.p.A., except Larderello itelf: the resistance of the worker's union will ran from May 9 to June 9 and continued sporadically until October 1920.
The work resumed with enormous social losses for the workers: 400 employees are laid off, health care stops being free and the salary ceases to be guaranteed in case of illness. Moreover, workers now pay rent for their homes, are enrolled in the National Fascist Party
(PNF) and come under surveillance and guard by members of the same PNF. The area falls under fascist influence from Larderello, until the creation of the tenth combat battalion on October 16, 1920, the first and unique in the area until 1922. In October of that year, the workers participate in the march on Rome.
Tuscan fascists built local networks through the various sports clubs or other diversions already set up under the influence of philanthropic Larderel and Ginori Conti.
exploded with a force and a roar so constant that local residents seal doors and windows to be able to sleep. The noise was such as to be heard up to Volterra and Massa Marittima, 25 km away. In 1936, Ferrovie dello Stato
opens a new 60 MW power, producing two million pounds of water vapor, in addition to natural gas (93% carbon dioxide, 2.5% hydrogen sulphide, 4.5% of residual fuel).
The prince, many times deputy of Volterra (1896–1919) and senator of the Kingdom in 1919, is now assisted by his eldest son John (1899–1972) [1], doctor of chemistry, general manager of establishments, and his youngest son Frederick (1909–1975), Deputy Director General and Director of Research Laboratory opened in 1938.
The independence achieved by the Società Boracifera di Larderello and emancipation from the two groups hitherto hegemonic power system Società Ligure Toscana di Elettricità and the Società Elettrica Valdarno, then merged into Selt-Valdarno, explain the growing interest of the Ferrovie dello Stato for the boric acid plants. After the signing of several agreements after 1932, the Società Boracifera di Larderello finally passes into the hands of the Ferrovie dello Stato in 1939. Despite the war, the Ferrovie dello Stato generates further research into steam and electricity generation will peak at 900GWh in 1943.
Piero Ginori Conti, held in high esteem by the Duke, was made a Grand Cross and Grand Cordon of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, and in 1939, Minister of State. That distinction earned him a state funeral celebrated in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, on December 5, 1939. He left his children a legacy worth 15 million liras at the time, in real estate and securities.
The prince, who was widowed in 1925, remarried to a French woman named Odette Guillemard. From the first marriage he had four sons and two daughters; from the second, a single daughter.
The prince was also a Rotarian in the early years of Rotary International
in Italy. He became governor of the then District 46, in the year 1928-1929 as well as Chairman of the RC of Florence.
Son of Gino Ginori Conti and Pauline Fabbri, an old aristocratic family of Florence, Piero Ginori Conti married in 1894 Adriana de Larderel (1872–1925), daughter of Count Florestan - nephew of François - and his cousin Marcella de Larderel and heir to one of the most significant assets in Tuscany.
Geothermal electricity
In 1904, Prince Ginori Conti became the head of the boric acidBoric acid
Boric acid, also called hydrogen borate or boracic acid or orthoboric acid or acidum boricum, is a weak acid of boron often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, as a neutron absorber, and as a precursor of other chemical compounds. It exists in the form of colorless crystals or a...
extraction firm founded by his wife's great-grandfather in Larderello
Larderello
Larderello is a frazione of the comune of Pomarance, in Tuscany in central Italy. It is a geologically active area, renowned for its geothermal productivity.- Geography :...
, and took the establishment in a new direction, with the use of natural steam to produce electricity. His business plan was: improving the quality of products, with increased production and lower prices, and exploitation of natural dry steam geysers to produce electricity. On July 4, 1904 at Larderello, Prince Piero Ginori Conti powered five bulbs from a dynamo driven by a reciprocating steam engine using geothermal power
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
. This system improved to the point that in 1916 it distributed 2750 kW of electricity in the entire area surrounding the village. With a new international reputation, Larderello was visited by Marie Curie
Marie Curie
Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a physicist and chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes—in physics and chemistry...
during the First World War.
In 1912, he succeeded his father-in-law, who had no male heirs, as the majority shareholder of the family business. This year sees the installation of the first geothermal power plant in Larderello, and the merger of three companies competing in the production of boric acid into a new company, the Società Boracifera di Larderello. This restructuring strengthens the family's control of the company's stock and compensates for the increasingly stiff competition from America and the decline of boric acid production.
Fascism
The geothermal electricity project was put on hold until 1921, after the war and years of social unrest were calmed by the arrival to power of Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, of whom the Ginori Conti / Larderel families were big supporter.
The first general campaign in favor of the strike by Castelnuovo
Castelnuovo
-Places:Comuni in Italy:*Castelnuovo, Province of Trento*Castelnuovo Belbo, Province of Asti*Castelnuovo Berardenga, Province of Siena*Castelnuovo Bocca d'Adda, Province of Lodi*Castelnuovo Bormida, Province of Alessandria...
in Larderello broke out in 1915, in spite of the care that "prince-father," faithful to the principles of Larderel, offered to the wives and children of the workers on the battlefront. After the war, in which his children and wife (a nurse) served, the first strike hit the various establishments in the Larderello S.p.A., except Larderello itelf: the resistance of the worker's union will ran from May 9 to June 9 and continued sporadically until October 1920.
The work resumed with enormous social losses for the workers: 400 employees are laid off, health care stops being free and the salary ceases to be guaranteed in case of illness. Moreover, workers now pay rent for their homes, are enrolled in the National Fascist Party
National Fascist Party
The National Fascist Party was an Italian political party, created by Benito Mussolini as the political expression of fascism...
(PNF) and come under surveillance and guard by members of the same PNF. The area falls under fascist influence from Larderello, until the creation of the tenth combat battalion on October 16, 1920, the first and unique in the area until 1922. In October of that year, the workers participate in the march on Rome.
Tuscan fascists built local networks through the various sports clubs or other diversions already set up under the influence of philanthropic Larderel and Ginori Conti.
Middle age
On March 27, 1931, the first fumaroleFumarole
A fumarole is an opening in a planet's crust, often in the neighborhood of volcanoes, which emits steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulfide. The steam is created when superheated water turns to steam as its pressure drops when it emerges from...
exploded with a force and a roar so constant that local residents seal doors and windows to be able to sleep. The noise was such as to be heard up to Volterra and Massa Marittima, 25 km away. In 1936, Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
opens a new 60 MW power, producing two million pounds of water vapor, in addition to natural gas (93% carbon dioxide, 2.5% hydrogen sulphide, 4.5% of residual fuel).
The prince, many times deputy of Volterra (1896–1919) and senator of the Kingdom in 1919, is now assisted by his eldest son John (1899–1972) [1], doctor of chemistry, general manager of establishments, and his youngest son Frederick (1909–1975), Deputy Director General and Director of Research Laboratory opened in 1938.
The independence achieved by the Società Boracifera di Larderello and emancipation from the two groups hitherto hegemonic power system Società Ligure Toscana di Elettricità and the Società Elettrica Valdarno, then merged into Selt-Valdarno, explain the growing interest of the Ferrovie dello Stato for the boric acid plants. After the signing of several agreements after 1932, the Società Boracifera di Larderello finally passes into the hands of the Ferrovie dello Stato in 1939. Despite the war, the Ferrovie dello Stato generates further research into steam and electricity generation will peak at 900GWh in 1943.
Piero Ginori Conti, held in high esteem by the Duke, was made a Grand Cross and Grand Cordon of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, and in 1939, Minister of State. That distinction earned him a state funeral celebrated in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, on December 5, 1939. He left his children a legacy worth 15 million liras at the time, in real estate and securities.
The prince, who was widowed in 1925, remarried to a French woman named Odette Guillemard. From the first marriage he had four sons and two daughters; from the second, a single daughter.
The prince was also a Rotarian in the early years of Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
in Italy. He became governor of the then District 46, in the year 1928-1929 as well as Chairman of the RC of Florence.