Forneri, James
LLD (1789 –1869)
June/July 1789 - 5 September 1869)
Born Piedmont, Italy (born DeForneri)
Initially slated for the priesthood; attended Seminario Romano (seminary in Rome); with death of elder brother, gave up study of theology for jurisprudence and canon law. LLD from University Della Sapienza in Rome; admitted to Turin Bar in 1809
Sub-lieutenant in the 4th Regiment of the Guards (1812); member of Carbonari (Carbonari Revolution 1820-1821); fled to Spain in 1821, and fought for constitutional party; captured by the French; took asylum in England, 1824; offered teaching position at small private school outside of London; then to Hull; then to Belfast and the chair of Modern Languages in the Belfast Royal Academical Institution; 1851 to Windsor Collegiate Academy, Windsor, Nova Scotia
1853 – appointed first incumbent of chair in Modern Languages, University College (until 1866)
“Dr Forneri’s warrant of appointment to the chair of Modern Languages was dated May 28th, 1853; it was signed by Lord Elgin, the then Governor-General of Canada, and counter-signed by the Hon. A.W. Morin, Provincial Secretary....” (King, p. 248)
King, John. McCaul, Croft, Forneri. Toronto” Macmillan, 1914.
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/french/dept-of-french/history/chap1b.html