Mezzofanti

Giuseppe Mezzofanti (1774–1849), commonly known as Cardinal Mezzofanti, was an Italian priest and linguist whose reputed facility with languages made him one of the most famous polyglots of the 19th century. Born in Bologna, he pursued clerical studies and developed an exceptional talent for languages early in life. In Rome, he attracted attention for his linguistic versatility, and in the 1830s he was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI.

Mezzofanti is widely cited as having mastered dozens of languages, with popular accounts claiming numbers ranging from several dozen to well over a hundred. However, historians note that many anecdotes are secondhand and that precise attestations of fluency across numerous languages are scarce. The reliability of the language-count figures is therefore uncertain, and his competence likely varied by language and context.

Regardless of the exact tally, Mezzofanti's reputation contributed to 19th-century fascination with polyglottism and language learning. He reportedly performed translations and served in ecclesiastical capacities that benefited from his linguistic skills, though detailed records of his achievements are uneven. He died in Rome in 1849, leaving a legacy as a symbol of linguistic aptitude and the enduring curiosity about human language capacity. His life has been the subject of biographies and later critical assessments that reflect both the allure and the historiographical challenges of verifying extraordinary linguistic talent.