Umberto Merlin (17 February 1885 – 22 May 1964) was an Italian lawyer and Christian Democrat politician who held several cabinet posts in the 1940s and 1950s.
Merlin was born in Rovigo on 17 February 1885.[1] He was president of the Catholic Youth Club of St. Francis Association.[2] In 1903 he became the Veneto regional president of the Association. In 1906 he obtained a degree in law from the University of Padua.[2]
Following his graduation Merlin worked as a lawyer.[2] He participated in World War I with the rank of lieutenant.[2] He was a cofounder the Italian Popular Party,[3][4] but during the Fascist rule he did not involve in politics.[2] After World War II Merlin resumed his political activities and joined the Christian Democracy Party.[2] He was elected as one of the 60 national councilors of the Christian Democrats in the congress held in Rome on 24–27 April 1946.[2] The same year he was elected deputy to the Constituent Assembly.[2] In 1947 Merlin was named as the general secretary of the party.[1] In 1948 he became a senator and served in the first four legislatures.[2] He served as the minister of posts and telecommunications in the cabinet led by Alcide De Gasperi between 31 May 1947 and 23 May 1948.[2] He also served in the same post in the cabinet headed again by Alcide De Gasperi from 16 July to 16 August 1953.[2] He was the minister of public works in the cabinet led by Giuseppe Pella (17 August 1953 – 17 January 1954) and in the first cabinet of Amintore Fanfani (18 January–9 February 1954).[2] Then he served in the municipal and provincial council of Polesine.[2]
Merlin married Maria Vittoria Lorenzoni with whom he had four children.[2] He died of a heart attack in Padua on 22 May 1964.[1][4]
