Ioannis Kapodistrias
Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias (Greek: Κόμης Ιωάννης Αντώνιος Καποδίστριας; c. 10 February 1776 –27 September 1831 ), sometimes anglicized as John Capodistrias, was a Greek statesman who was one of the most distinguished politicians and diplomats of 19th-century Europe.
Ioannis Kapodistrias | |
|---|---|
| Ιωάννης Καποδίστριας | |
Portrait by Dionysios Tsokos | |
| 1st Governor of Greece | |
| In office 20 January 1828 – 27 September 1831 (o.s.) | |
| Preceded by | Vice-gubernatorial Committee of 1827 |
| Succeeded by | Augustinos Kapodistrias |
| Foreign Minister of Russia | |
| In office 1816–1822 | |
| Monarch | Alexander I |
| Preceded by | Nikolay Rumyantsev |
| Succeeded by | Karl Nesselrode |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1776 Corfu, Venetian Ionian Islands |
| Died | 27 September 1831 (aged 55) Nafplion, First Hellenic Republic |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Political party | Russian Party |
| Relations | Viaros Kapodistrias (brother) Augustinos Kapodistrias (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Padua |
| Signature | |
Capodistrias' involvement in politics begun as a minister of the Septinsular Republic in the early 19th century. He went on to serve as the foreign minister of the Russian Empire from 1816 until his abdication in 1822, when he became increasingly active in supporting the Greek War of Independence that broke out a year earlier.
After a long and distinguished career in European politics and diplomacy, he was elected as the first head of state of independent Greece at the 1827 Third National Assembly at Troezen and served as the governor of Greece between 1828 and 1831. For his significant contribution during his governance, he is recognised as the founder of the modern Greek state, and the architect of Greek independence.