Birth. May 8, 1797, Genoa. Eldest son of Francesco Maria Ignazio Brignole (1754-1809) and Maria Giovanna Grillo Cattaneo (1763-1826). Grandson of Giacomo Maria Brignole (1724-1802), last doge of Genoa (1795-1597).

Education. He studied humanities at the Imperial Lyceum of Genoa (1809) and traveled through Italy (Naples, Rome and Florence) in 1819. At La Sapienza University, Rome, earned a doctorate in utroque iuris, both civil and canon law, on January 20, 1825).

Priesthood. Ordained, in Genoa before moving to Rome in 1822, by Luigi Lambruschini, C.R.S.P., archbishop of Genoa. Vice-legate in Ferrara. Referendary utroque in the Signature of Justice, March 1825. Ponens of the Congregation of Good Government (April 1825). Protonotary apostolic non-participatium, February 1826. Vice-legate in Forli (October 1826). Prelate of the Congregation of the Council (March 1827). Vicar of the patriarchal Lateran basilica, Rome (December 1828). Second advisor of the Criminal Court of the Government of Rome (December 1828). Pro-legte in Ferrara (February 1829) during the Conclave. First advisor of the Criminal Court of the Government of Rome (June 1829).

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Nazianzo, March 15, 1830. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, March 23, 1830. Nuncio to Tuscany, March 26, 1830. Consecrated, March 28, 1830, patriarchal Lateran basilica, Rome, by Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Franzoni, assisted by Lorenzo Girolamo Mattei, titular Latin patriarch of Antioch and secretary of the S.C. of the Apostolic Visit, and by Antonio Louis Piatti, titular archbishop of Trebizonde and secretary of the S.C. of Indulgences and Sacred Relics. Treasurer general of the Apostolic Chamber, February 22, 1833.

Birth. July 19, 1768, Treia, diocese of Macerata. Son of Count Francesco Niccolò Grimaldi and Vincenza Broglio d’Ajano. His first name is also listed as Niccolo.

Education. Studied at the Seminary of Frascati from 1783; then, at the University of Macerata, where he earned a doctoratein utroque iure, both canon and civil law; and finally, at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles, Rome, (diplomacy) from 1790 to 1794, where he had as condisciples Domenico de Simone and Carlo Maria Pedicini, future cardinals.

Early life. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, 1803. Relator of the S.C. of Good Government, 1806. Lieutenent of the Apostolic Chamber, 1816; later auditor, 1824. Secretary of the Sacred Consulta, 1829. Governor of Rome and vice-camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, July 6, 1832 until January 20, 1834.

Sacred orders. (No information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of January 20, 1834; received the red hat, January 23, 1834; and the deaconry of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano, June 23, 1834. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinal, April 6, 1835 until 1836. Legate in Forlì, July 5, 1836 until 1838.

Death. January 12, 1845, Rome. Buried in the church of S. Salvatore in Lauro, Rome.

Bibliography. Del Re, Niccolò. Monsignor governatore di Roma. Rome : Istituto di Studi Romani Editore, 1972, p. 125; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle : contribution à l'histoire du Sacré Collège sous les pontificats de Pie VII, Léon XII, Pie VIII, Grégoire XVI, Pie IX et Léon XIII, 1800-1903. Montréal : Wilson & Lafleur, 2007. (Collection Gratianus. Série instruments de recherche), p. 448-449; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VII (1800-1846). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1968, pp. 27 and 46.