[1] Born in San Salvi but from the Livorno branch of the Mari family, he studied law at the University of Pisa and dedicated himself to the profession of lawyer.

He began his political activity in 1848 when, after the expulsion of Grand Duke Leopold II and the establishment of a republican government, he was elected deputy to the Tuscan Assembly where he sided with the moderates.

He abandoned his parliamentary seat almost immediately due to the prevalence of the extreme democratic faction in the assembly and returned to his legal practice.

[3] In 1859 he actively worked for the end of the Grand Duchy and for the annexation to the Kingdom of Sardinia and was subsequently elected deputy to parliament where he remained for eight legislatures representing various Tuscan constituencies.

[3] After the transfer of the Italian capital to Florence, his hometown, he was elected President of the Chamber on 18 November 1865, on the third ballot, in a run-off with Antonio Mordini, and was then reconfirmed for the first time on 18 December 1866 and again on 27 March 1867 beating Francesco Crispi.