How did Camillo Benso, count di Cavour become involved in business and agriculture?

Camillo Benso, count di Cavour, became involved in business and agriculture following his resignation from the military in 1831. After leaving the army, his father appointed him mayor of a village south of Turin and tasked him with the administration of extensive landholdings belonging to his uncles.1

These roles initially served to occupy his time, but he soon developed a deep interest in social and economic issues, including poverty and prisoner education. Following extensive travels to Paris and London, where he observed advanced economic and social systems, Cavour began engaging in a series of fruitful business enterprises starting in 1835. These ventures allowed him to accumulate a considerable fortune and established his reputation as a proponent of economic modernization, including the development of railroads and the promotion of free trade. His expertise in these areas eventually facilitated his entry into politics, leading to his appointment as minister of agriculture in 1850.12