River Hydraulics in the Napoleonic Period: the Role of Simone Stratico

Simone Stratico (1733-1824) is one of the most interesting figures of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in the Veneto region: he is symbolic of the versatile scientist in applied sciences, with organisational and technical skills, which were greatly appreciated and put to use, firstly, by the Republic of Venice, and then by the Napoleonic government. Simone Filippo Stratico (or Stratigo) was born in Zara to a Venetian family of Crete, in 1733. His academic career began in 1757 with a post in the theory of medicine at the University of Padua. Between 1761 and 1764 he was commissioned by the Republic of Venice to go to London and other European countries to gather information on shipyards and naval colleges. On his return, he took up the chair in mathematics and naval theory at the University of Padua, previously held by Giovanni Poleni, making contributions that were decisive in re-launching naval construction studies in Venice, by promoting, in 1765, the introduction of a new school for naval construction at the Arsenal. Models and designs of ships dating back to the period of Stratico’s teaching are still preserved at the University of Padua. Stratico’s name is linked to the re-foundation of the Padua Academy in 1779, which was soon to become the technical and scientific reference point for the Republic. Stratico was called on, as consultant, to take part in many commissions appointed to examine issues concerning waterways, health, artillery, roads, and the Arsenal. In particular, he was charged to examine the controversial project of the reconstruction of the Brenta River. His extensive scientific production, whether in printed or manuscript form, reflects the diversity of his interests and charges, covering such areas as ship and civil engineering, mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, optics, and the history of architecture. We will focus on his activity and production in the field of hydraulics in the Napoleonic period, when Stratico had the opportunity to intervene in the serious problems afflicting the entire Italian territory, particularly those linked to the Po River, the Adige and their tributaries. He was a member of the Milan Commission during the Cisalpine Republic (1801), then was appointed national expert of the central government of waterways during the Italian Republic and general inspector during the Kingdom of Italy (1806). He presieded over the Modena Commission which was active between 1803 and 1806 to address the main hydraulic problems of the nation, taking into consideration the needs of navigation, irrigation, the protection of the population from flooding, and the reclamation of land for agriculture. The issues under debate may be divided into four separate matters: the reclamation of the Great Veronese Valleys and the management of the Tartaro-Canalbianco, reclamation of Burana and the barrel under the Panaro, diversion of the Reno into the Po and the works on the Apennine streams and channels to the right of the Reno, and works on the Goro port at the mouth of the Po. Stratico therefore held top governmental positions in matters of hydraulics for both the Italian Republic (1804) and the Kingdom of Italy (1806). His writings on the matters of waterways as well as the important posts he held are to be found mainly in the Marciana Library in Venice, classified under different codes.