Gaetano Salvemini was born in Italy in 1873. He taught history at the universities of Messina, Pisa and Florence. A socialist, he served in the Italian Parliament between 1919 and 1921.

A leading critic of the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini Salvemini was arrested and imprisoned in 1925. After his release he emigrated to the United States and taught history at Harvard University (1930-48).

Salvemini became an United States citizen in 1940 but after the Second World War he retired to Italy. Gaetano Salvemini died in 1957.