Cesare Cantù (1804-1895) was an Italian historian, writer, and politician. He was born in Brivio and was a prominent figure in 19th-century Italian culture. His most influential work was the "Storia Universale", published in 35 volumes. He also wrote novels, essays, and poetry. Cantù was a devout and conservative Catholic, which caused him problems with the liberal regime of his time, leading to his imprisonment for his ideas. His legacy includes a vast historiographical and literary output.