Frisi, Paolo (1728-1784)

Milanese astronomer, mathematician and physicist.

Professor at the University of Milan. Member of the Barnabite religious order. Member of nearly every learned society in Europe.

Played a major role in the compilation, interpretation, and dissemination of the work of scientists such as Galileo, Newton, Cavalieri, and d’Alembert. Worked on electricity, and was the first to introduce the lightning conductor into Italy.

Author of numerous scientific works, including his major work on hydraulics, Del modo di regolare i fiumi, e i torrenti (1763). Franklin was apparently in contact with him years before he probably saw him in London (1766).

Edited the newspaper Il caffe, a paper influenced by the ideas of the Illuminati.