Quick Facts
Biography
Marcantonio Marcolini (1721–1782) was an Italian Catholic bishop and cardinal.
Biography
Marcantonio Marcolini was born in Fano on November 22, 1721, the son of Count Pietro Paolo Marcolini and Ana Maria Francesca Ferretti, of the counts of Castel Ferretto.
He graduated from the Collegio di San Carlo in Modena on October 22, 1732; from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1740; and then received a doctorate of both laws from the Sapienza University of Rome on July 3, 1742.
After graduating, he became a privy chamberlain supernumerary of Pope Benedict XIV. In 1743, he was sent to Paris as papal legate to take the red hat to Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi, Apostolic Nuncio to France. In 1744, he became a canon of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. On August 28, 1747, he became Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura. He was made Relator of the Sacred Congregation of Good Government in July 1748. In 1751, he traveled through Germany and Saxony. He became a judge of the Reverend Fabric of Saint Peter's basilica in November 1752, becoming its secretary in December 1756. He became a canon of St. Peter's Basilica in April 1754. In December 1755, he became Voter of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
He was ordained as a priest on February 27, 1768.
He was elected titular archbishop of Thessalonica on June 12, 1769, and was consecrated as a bishop by Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart on June 25, 1769. Shortly thereafter, Pope Clement XIV made him an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne. On August 23, 1769, he became Apostolic Nuncio to Florence. He later returned to Rome, becoming secretary of the Sacred Consulta on February 16, 1771. On May 18, 1773, he became auditor of the Apostolic Camera. He was made president of Urbino on May 2, 1775.
In the consistory of June 23, 1777, Pope Pius VI made him a cardinal. He received the red hat on June 26, 1777, and on July 28, 1777 received the titular church of Sant'Onofrio. He remained pro-president of Urbino until June 1778.
While visiting Fano, he suffered from apoplexy on May 1, 1782. He died in Fano on June 18, 1782.