Volterra, Enrico 1905-1973

Biography

Enrico Volterra was born June 11, 1905 in Rome, shortly after his father's appointment as Senator of the Kingdom of Italy. The family belonged to Italy's intellectual elite. His mother, Virginia Almagià, was an accomplished pianist and astute businesswoman, and his father, Vito, was professor of mathematics at the University of Rome and the undisputed head of the Italian school of mathematics until Mussolini became dictator in 1925. Enrico was one of six children, two of whom died shortly after birth. After graduation from the city's prestigious Liceo Classico Torquato Tasso, Volterra entered the University of Rome, where he received the degree of civil engineer with highest honors in 1928. That same year he also obtained his professional abilitazione in bridges and roads at the Polytechnic School of Engineering in Naples.

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