13 Facts About Konstantinos Kanaris

Konstantinos Kanaris was born and grew up on the island of Psara, close to the island of Chios, in the Aegean.

Konstantinos Kanaris was left an orphan at a young age.

Konstantinos Kanaris was hired as a boy on the brig of his uncle Dimitris Bourekas.

Konstantinos Kanaris gained his fame during the Greek War of Independence.

Konstantinos Kanaris returned to the island of Psara in haste and was present when it joined the uprising on 10 April 1821.

Konstantinos Kanaris led another successful attack against the Ottoman fleet at Tenedos in November 1822.

Konstantinos Kanaris was famously said to have encouraged himself by murmuring "Konstanti, you are going to die" every time he was approaching a Turkish warship on the fire boat he was about to detonate.

Konstantinos Kanaris was one of the few with the personal confidence of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Head of State of independent Greece.

Konstantinos Kanaris served a second term, and as Navy Minister in the 1854 cabinet of Alexandros Mavrokordatos.

Konstantinos Kanaris died on 2 September 1877 whilst still serving in office as Prime Minister.

Konstantinos Kanaris was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens and his heart was placed in a silver urn.

Konstantinos Kanaris is considered a national hero in Greece and ranks amongst the most notable participants of the War of Independence.

In 1817, Konstantinos Kanaris married Despoina Maniatis, from a historical family of Psara.