Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso, Count of Cavour, Isolabella and Leri (10 August 1810 – 6 June 1861), generally known as Cavour (/kəˈvʊər/ kə-VOOR, Italian: [kaˈvur]), was an Italian statesman and a leading figure in the movement toward Italian unification.

Count Camillo di Cavour:
Count Camillo di Cavour, also known as Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, was an Italian statesman and a key figure in the movement for Italian unification. He was born on August 10, 1810, in Turin, Italy, and played a crucial role in the creation of the modern Italian state. Cavour served as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia from 1852 until his death in 1861.

Early Life and Education:
Cavour was born into an aristocratic family with a long history in the Piedmont region of Italy. He received a thorough education, studying law at the University of Turin. However, his true passion lay in politics and economics.

Political Career:
Cavour began his political career as a moderate liberal, advocating for economic reforms and constitutional government. He believed that economic development and modernization were crucial for Italy's progress. In 1847, he founded the newspaper "Il Risorgimento" (The Resurgence), which promoted Italian nationalism and called for the unification of the Italian states.

Role in Italian Unification:
Cavour played a pivotal role in the process of Italian unification, which aimed to unite the various independent states and kingdoms on the Italian peninsula into a single nation-state. He pursued a policy of alliances and diplomacy to achieve this goal.

Alliance with France:
Cavour recognized the need for a powerful ally to counterbalance Austria, which controlled much of Italy. He forged an alliance with France, led by Emperor Napoleon III. In 1858, he orchestrated the secret Treaty of Plombières, in which France agreed to support Piedmont-Sardinia in a war against Austria in exchange for territorial concessions.

The Crimean War and Italian Unification:
In 1855, during the Crimean War, Cavour sent an army to join the French and British forces against Russia. This move not only gained international recognition for Piedmont-Sardinia but also established a rapport with France, further strengthening their alliance.

Wars of Italian Unification:
With French support, Cavour initiated a war against Austria in 1859. This conflict, known as the Second Italian War of Independence, resulted in several victories for the Piedmontese forces. As a result, several northern Italian states, including Tuscany, Parma, Modena, and Romagna, joined Piedmont-Sardinia.

Creation of the Kingdom of Italy:
In 1860, Cavour facilitated the annexation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies by Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts." This action further strengthened the movement for unification, and in 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, with Victor Emmanuel II as its king.

Legacy:
Count Camillo di Cavour is remembered as one of the founding fathers of modern Italy. His diplomatic skills, political strategies, and economic reforms were instrumental in the unification of Italy. He laid the foundation for the creation of a unified Italian state and played a crucial role in shaping its early years. Cavour's contributions are widely recognized and celebrated in Italian history.