Alberto Bolognetti

Alberto Bolognetti (1538 to 1585) was an Italian law professor, bishop, diplomat and cardinal, born in Bologna as the son of the senator and poet Francesco Bolognetti. He studied at the University of Bologna under Gabriele Paleotto and took his doctorate in law in 1562, then taught civil law at Bologna and for nine years at Salerno. In 1574 Pope Gregory XIII called him to Rome, and he served as nuncio in Florence, in Venice and finally in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where he persuaded King Stephen Bathory to adopt the Gregorian calendar. He was made Bishop of Massa Marittima in 1579 and was raised to cardinal priest, but died before he could return to Rome for the ceremonies.