Camillo Cavour was an Italian statesman and a leading figure in the movement for Italian unification in the 19th century. He served as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia from 1852 to 1861 and played a key role in the unification of Italy. Cavour was known for his diplomatic skills and his efforts to modernize and industrialize the Kingdom of Sardinia, which helped to strengthen its position in the Italian unification process. He was a proponent of liberal economic policies and worked to build alliances with other European powers to advance the cause of Italian unification. Cavour's contributions to the unification of Italy earned him a prominent place in Italian history.