Anastasios Damvergis

Anastasios Damvergis (Greek: Αναστάσιος Κ. Δαμβέργης; 1857–1920) was an author, dean, chemist, pharmacist, and professor. He was one of the first modern pharmacists in Greece. He wrote a 1200-page volume entitled Greek Pharmacopoeia outlining modern pharmaceutical formulas and remedies. The Greek government made the book the Greek pharmaceutical standard in 1908. He introduced modern pharmaceutical laboratories in different educational institutions and wrote textbooks in the field of chemistry and pharmacy; in addition, he also wrote articles for pharmaceutical and medical journals.

Anastasios was born in Mykonos, his father was Cretan military commander Konstantinos Damvergis. Anastasios completed his pharmaceutical degree at the University of Athens and continued his studies in Germany. In Germany he studied with Robert Bunsen and Siegmund Gabriel. Anastasios did research ranging from spectrum analysis to synthetic chemistry. He also briefly studied at the University of Berlin and the Sorbonne. Anastasios returned to Greece and became a pharmacy professor at the University of Athens and became the chair of the department. He also briefly taught at the Hellenic Naval Academy and Evelpidon; likewise, he assisted the Greek government regarding pharmaceutical affairs.

Anastasios attended many international chemistry and pharmaceutical summits representing Greece. He influenced countless students including Tilemachos Komninos. He served as Dean of the Philosophical School which was part of the University of Athens from 1898-1899. He was an honorary member of the School of Pharmacy of Brixton, of the Societies of Biological Chemistry and of Arts and Letters of London and he was an officer of the Order of the Saviour of Greece and a commander in the Order of the Crown of Italy.