Augusto Riboty | |
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Italian Minister of the Navy | |
In office 1868–1869 | |
Monarch | Vittorio Emanuele II |
Prime Minister | Luigi Federico Menabrea |
Preceded by | Pompeo Provana del Sabbione |
Succeeded by | Stefano Castagnola |
In office 1872–1873 | |
Monarch | Victor Emmanuel II |
Prime Minister | Giovanni Lanza |
Preceded by | Guglielmo Acton |
Succeeded by | Simone Pacoret de Saint Bon |
Personal details | |
Born | 29 November 1816 Puget-Théniers, Kingdom of Sardinia |
Died | 9 February 1888 Nice | (aged 71)
Augusto Riboty (Puget-Théniers, 29 November 1816 – 9 February 1888) was an Italian admiral and Minister of the Navy.
Born in the County of Nice, he enrolled in 1830 in the Navy School of Genoa, graduating in 1835. In 1848 he participated, on the brig Colombo, in the First Italian War of Independence; he also saw service in the Crimean War while serving on the screw frigate Carlo Alberto. He took part in the Second War of Italian Independence as commander of the paddle sloop Monzambano.
In 1860, promoted to the rank of Capitano di Fregata of the newly born Regia Marina Italiana, Riboty was named head of the Navy School of Genoa, which he led until 1864. He was afterwards promoted to Capitano di Vascello and served as chief of staff to the Squadra di Evoluzione (Squadron of Evolution), the active squadron of the Italian Navy meant to provide experience and training with the new fleet-sized maneuvers; as such, he participated in the multinational intervention in Tunisia in 1864, protecting foreign property and subjects during a revolt. When the squadron was deactivated, he served again as head of the Genoese school, as well as that of Naples.
In 1866 Riboty was named commander of the new ironclad screw frigate Re di Portogallo, in which he participated in the Third Italian War of Independence. At the Battle of Lissa, he gallantly led his ship, and inflicted serious damage to the screw ship of the line Kaiser; his actions were praised by all his superiors, and he was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valour. Promoted to Rear Admiral, he led the naval forces that contributed to the repression of a revolt in Palermo in September of the same year.
Riboty took command of the active naval squadron in 1867.
Riboty retired to private life. He died at Nice on 9 February 1888.
An esploratore (later reclassified destroyer) of the Mirabello-class was named after Riboty; it served on both World Wars, being scrapped in 1951.