14 Facts About Pavlos Kountouriotis

Pavlos Kountouriotis was a Greek admiral who served during the Balkan Wars, was regent of Greece, and the first president of the Second Hellenic Republic.

Pavlos Kountouriotis was born on the island of Hydra to Theodoros Kountouriotis, Consul and Member of the Greek Parliament and Loukia Negreponte.

Pavlos Kountouriotis used Arvanitika frequently as well, and his personal secretary wrote about him that whenever he traveled to Hydra he preferred to use only Arvanitika.

Pavlos Kountouriotis was the grandson of Georgios, a shipowner who like many members of his family, participated in the Greek War of Independence and served as Prime Minister of Greece under King Otto.

Pavlos Kountouriotis was the second of nine children, including Ioannis Kountouriotis.

Pavlos Kountouriotis's ship took part in at least two landings of Greek troops on the island of Crete in support of the Cretan Revolt.

Pavlos Kountouriotis's orders were to present the flag of the Hellenic Navy to the 60,000 Greeks living in the US, but to be the first exploratory mission of independent Greece.

Pavlos Kountouriotis served as an aide-de-camp to King George I from 1908 until 1911, receiving the rank of Captain in 1909.

In June 1911, Pavlos Kountouriotis was sent to Britain, to take control of the newly-commissioned Georgios Averof, following the "blue cheese mutiny".

Pavlos Kountouriotis played a crucial role in the Greek government's decision to enter the war.

Pavlos Kountouriotis weighed in decisively in these discussions, proclaiming his confidence that even with the existing fleet, victory could be achieved, thanks to superior personnel.

Pavlos Kountouriotis was promoted to vice admiral for "exceptional war service", the first Greek career officer since Konstantinos Kanaris to reach the rank.

Pavlos Kountouriotis subsequently retired from the navy with the honorary rank of full Admiral.

Pavlos Kountouriotis served a second time as a provisional president from August 1926 until December 1929.