Nikolaos Votsis

 Nikolaos Votsis (1877 - September 17, 1931)

From the island of Hydra, Nikolaos Votsis was a Greek naval officer who distinguished himself during the Balkan Wars (1912-13), he was descended from the prominent Kountouriotis family on his mother's side.

After studying at the Naval Academy, he served during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, serving in the naval blockade of Crete and by the time of the Balkan Wars, he was a Lieutenant commanding his own Torpedo Boat.

He is most well-known, for leading his vessel into Thessaloniki Harbour during the First Balkan War (1912), when it was still held and heavily fortified by the Turks,. He evaded detection and capture, sinking the Turkish Warship the Feth-i-Bulend.

This was a massive morale boost for the Greeks and was the first in a series of Greek naval successes in the war, with Votsis becoming a National Hero and earning promotion to Captain.

These Naval victories played a Major role in Greece re-taking Thessaloniki for the first time in over 5 centuries, with Greek Forces triumphantly entering the City only a few weeks later.

Later during the international mission which took control of the Constantinople following WW1, Votsis was appointed Greece’s High Commissioner for the City until 1922.

Nikolaos Votsis retired with the rank of Rear Admiral.

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