Giovanni Antonelli was an Italian scientist, astronomer and engineer. Antonelli was born in Pistoia, Tuscany. A Catholic priest, he was director of the Ximenian Observatory of Florence from 1851 until his death. In 1858 he installed a lightning rod designed by himself and Filippo Cecchi on the Florence cathedral. Again with Father Cecchi, he collaborated in the design of a prototype of internal combustion engine with Nicolò Barsanti and Felice Matteucci. Wikipedia
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