He was born at Conselice, graduated at the University of Bologna, practiced law at Ferrara, and in 1816 was made praetor at Crespino and became prominent in politics.

After two years in Piombi dungeon,[1] and an unsuccessful attempt to take his own life, he was condemned to die on the public square of Venice, but when, with others, he was taken out for execution, the sentence was changed to “carcere duro” in Spielberg fortress for 20 years.

In 1836, shortly after the death of Emperor Francis I of Austria, Foresti and others were liberated, but condemned to perpetual exile in the United States.

In the United States, Foresti was for over 20 years professor of Italian in Columbia College.

[1] He took an interest in Young Italy, and became the official representative of Giuseppe Mazzini in the United States.