Born on the island of Hydra, he was a Hero of the Balkan Wars (1912-13), Admiral and Chief of the General Staff of the Hellenic Navy and later, President of Greece.
He was descendant from the wealthy ship owning Kountouriotis family, who played a pivotal role at sea during the Greek Revolution of 1821. Pavlos Kountouriotis followed in his family’s seafaring and navy tradition, by enlisting in the Hellenic Navy in 1875.
At the outbreak of the Balkan Wars (1912-13), he was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Navy and soon after was Chief of Staff of the Navy.
Pavlos Kountouriotis distinguished himself in numerous important naval battles in the Aegean, including 2 decisive victories at the Battles of Elli and Lemnos, which sent the Turks fleeing back up the Dardanelles, denying them control of the Aegean.
The islands of Lesvos, Lemnos, Thasos, Imvros, Tenedos, Psara, Agios Efstratios, Samothrace, Chios were all liberated, while Kountouriotis commanded the landing of the Hellenic Navy at Kavala.
Following victory in the Balkan Wars, Pavlos Kountouriotis was proclaimed Admiral of the Hellenic Navy, a distinction only ever awarded to 2 others, Konstantinos Kanaris & Andreas Miaoulis.
Later, Pavlos Kountouriotis became involved in politics, appointed Minister of the Navy, before becoming President of the Hellenic Republic.
Today, the name Pavlos Kountouriotis is displayed on numerous ships of the Hellenic Navy.
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