Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora (27 March 1799 – 7 June 1855) was an Italian general who is best remembered for founding the military unit known as the Bersaglieri.

[1] He demonstrated an early interest in military technology, and worked assiduously to improve the breechloading gun, for example.

The new corps impressed King Carlo Alberto, who immediately had them integrated as part of the Armata Sarda, the Piedmontese regular army.

Throughout the nineteenth century, under La Marmora's leadership, the Bersaglieri filled the role of skirmishers, screening the slow-moving line and column formations, but acting as special shock troops if required.

They were originally intended to serve as mountain troops, as well; the climber Jean Antoine Carrel was a Bersagliere.