Manlio Brosio

Manlio Brosio (10 July 1897 – 14 March 1980) was an Italian lawyer, diplomat, politician and the fourth secretary general of NATO between 1964 and 1971.

Brosio was born in Turin to Edoardo Brosio and Fortunata Curadelli. He studied law at the University of Turin. During World War I, he served in the Alpine regiment as an artillery officer. After the war, he graduated from university and in 1920 entered politics. Later, his political activity was barred because of his opposition to fascism.

During World War II, after the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943, Brosio went underground and later became a member of the National Liberation Committee. After the war he re-entered politics, and became deputy prime minister and in 1945, the Minister of War.

In January 1947, Brosio became the Italian ambassador to the Soviet Union and got involved with the peace treaty negotiations between the countries. In 1952, he became ambassador to the UK, to the US in 1955, and to France from 1961 to 1964.

On 12 May 1964, the NATO council chose Brosio to succeed Dirk Stikker as secretary general. He resigned on 3 September 1971. On 29 September 1971, U.S. President Richard Nixon awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Brosio died in Turin. He was the uncle of singer and television presenter Vanna Brosio.

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic 1st Class / Knight Grand Cross – 2 June 1955