[1] He was born in Rome, which was then part of the Papal States, to Michelangelo and Calixta Caetani (née Rzewuska).
He graduated in law at the University of Rome in 1863 and lived for a long time in England.
A supporter of the Historical Right party, he took a moderate position which gained the respect of both Catholics and non-Catholics.
He was elected for Velletri to the Chamber of Deputies in March 1872 and remained there uninterruptedly until 1911, when he was appointed to the Upper House as a Senator of the Kingdom of Italy.
He also served as the 8th Mayor of Rome from December 1890 to November 1892, and from March to July 1896 as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Italy in the Government of Rudini II.