Father Nicola Miozzi, the Molisan who enlightened Lecce

Father Nicola Miozzi, born in San Giovanni in Galdo in 1811 and died in Toulouse in 1872, is a figure of great importance in the history of scientific discoveries in Italy, particularly with regard to electric public lighting. With an education that included the study of Chinese, Hebrew, philosophy and physics, Miozzi distinguished himself for his pioneering interest in the application of electricity. Although information on his experiments is scarce, historical evidence reveals his significant commitment to the field.

In 1852, for example, his diary records experiments in electricity conducted with a steam boiler in Lecce, and in 1859, on the occasion of the visit of King Ferdinand II, Father Miozzi performed an experiment in lighting with an arc lamp powered by Bunsen batteries at the Palazzo dell’Intendenza. This event was described with enthusiasm, noting how his electric lighting “diffused an ocean of light,” giving an extraordinary appearance to the building and the king’s rooms.

Miozzi not only devoted himself to teaching physics at the Real Collegio di San Giuseppe in Lecce, but also took over the direction of the school from 1857. His influence extended beyond the classroom, being a teacher of Monsignor Giuseppe Candido. During his tenure, he managed to continue and expand the studies on electrical energy, already advanced in 1852, and was acclaimed as a celebrity in his field.

His first demonstration of electric lighting in Lecce, although it may not have been an entirely successful experiment, marked a significant step towards electric public lighting in Italy. Interestingly, in 1857 another inventor, Oronzo Romano, developed a device similar to Miozzi’s, marking a period of intense technological innovation.

On January 14, 1859, during the king's visit, Miozzi's electric lamp caused a great stir among those present and in the newspapers of the time, representing a true triumph of science and technology. Electric lighting was described as a "scientific revolution", so much so that in January 1860 Miozzi was summoned to the court of Naples to present his experiments. The enthusiastic reception of these experiments led to hypotheses on the creation of electric lighthouses to illuminate the coasts of the Kingdom of Naples.

In addition to his experiments with lighting, Miozzi also distinguished himself with the use of a small electric telegraph, used to signal the arrival of the royal procession, thus demonstrating his commitment to innovation and communication. However, the advent of historical events, such as Garibaldi's invasion, would soon overshadow his work and his discoveries. With the expulsion of the Jesuits decreed by Garibaldi, Miozzi was forced into exile in Toulouse, where he continued to teach philosophy, law and Hebrew until his death in 1872.

In short, the contributions of Father Nicola Miozzi not only marked an important chapter in the history of electric lighting in Italy, but also represent a symbol of the ingenuity and creativity of the South, a heritage that, unfortunately, has been partly obscured by the political and historical events of his time.