Francesco II d'Este was the last Duke of Modena and Reggio, ruling from 1859 until 1860. He was born on July 6, 1819, and was a member of the House of Este, a prominent Italian noble family. His reign was marked by political turmoil as the unification of Italy began to take shape, leading to the loss of his duchy. In 1860, Francesco II d'Este abdicated in favor of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy, which resulted in the annexation of his territories. After his abdication, he lived in exile in Austria and later in France, where he passed away on November 20, 1875.