Bogdanos Ioannis was from Egion and was worked as a merchant in Patras.
He was one of the prime founders of the town. Ioannis Bogdanos was called a
benefactor. He put at the Greek Community’s of Venice disposal money to build
schools, hospitals and other institutes, which was considered as a valuable
national gesture. Besides the buildings and money also had 42 real estates in
the city of Venice. Some of them still belong to Greeks.
Constantinos Bogdanos, Pavlos Bogdanos ‘s son, made a vast fortune in
trading. Constantinos, as well as his brother Nikolaos, were born in Patras.
Nikolaos settled in Venice.
Helen
Paraskevopoulou
Spyridon
Elias Kapitsis was a major of infantry. He fought in Crete as a second
lieutenant in the artillery (Sept. 1866 – end of December 1860) and in 1866 he
fought as an artillery captain in Zarko Patras.
He
died in Patras in 1895 being a garrison commander and a major military super
intendment.
Skouteri
Alexandra
Nick Kontogouris settled in Patras in 1786 and died in 1818 at the age of
62 and was buried next to the church of Saint George. He was the consulate of
Sardinia and Counselor of Venetian as well as a Consulate agent in United States
of America. His burial plaque, with the emblem of the Bishop German was found
recently in a quite bad condition at the town castle.
Andrew Kontogouris, nephew of Nicholas helps Patras
in favor of Filiki Eteria in 1821. He equipped a group of Cephalonians with 2
ships and fought for Patras.
Stelianos (1807-1833) consulate in Prussia and
Bavarian was born in Patras, studied at the Academy of Corfu and in Piza in
Italy. In 1837 he became a justice of the peace in Patras, lieutenant in the
Ministry of Justice (1863-1877).
Aristomenis, Stelianos son was born in Patras in
1841. He studied in Patras, Athens, Berlin and Paris. He became a Member of
Parliament in 1873 and a Mayor in 1890. He be wedded Victoria Sisini, who died
in 1844. Her grave is in the center of the first public cemetery.
Nicholas A. Kontogouris was born in Patras in 1878.
Kontogouri Zoi lived in Athens.
Philip Kontogouris, Aristomenis’s son, the Greek
consulate in Monastery in Macedonian had his brother Nicholas as a sublietenaut
who fought in the Macedonian war with the nickname Sinis.
Papazian Nancy
After
the Greek War of Independence Hoidas Pafsanias settled in Patras. Hoidas was
born February 1820. At an early age he was elected as a Member of Parliament in
Megara. He was the first chairman of the Bar in Patras. He brought out the
Criminal procedure de Berryat St. Prix. He was archbishop Aberkio’s advocate
in 1876.
In 1848 he was a Public Prosecutor in Berentite’s case. In 1876 he was
unanimously elected chairman of the Bar. In 1862 he become a captain of the
National Guard in Patras. Pafsanias Hoidas settled and died in Patras.
Olga
Tsantarlioti
Patriarch
of the Achaia’s politicians
He was born in Patras in 1795 and died in 18.3.68 at the age of 73 having
won his compatriots full respect. His parents were Thanos-Kanakaris Roufos and
Paraskevi Costaki. He was a warm supporter of the National-liberating quarrel
and offered the sum of 10.000 piasters to finance the army corps. His activities
were significant and later he was appointed as a commissioner and Governor in
Ilia and after in Syros Island In Order To suppresses the contraband and piracy.
During the Othon’s monarchy, he was a member of
the Senate and a member of the State’s Council, keeping his distance from the
Regime.
In 1844, he was elected congressman, in 1848
Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1855-1858 he was the Mayor in Patras.
In 11.10.62 he formed the “triandria” or
“regency” with D.Voulgaris and K.Kanakaris, until George I was enthroned in
Greece.
Roufos was elected Prime Minister during the
“antiroufiarism” until 26.10.63 for the first time and second time from
28.11.65 to 9.6.66.
He left his stamp – so to speak - as a “liberal
politician” and a “brave warrior”.
His sons Thanos Kanakaris, Georgios and Angelis
followed his political stigma while his son Loucas was indigent to politics.
Angelina Botsi
John
Boukaouris: A merchant was converted in the “Friendly Association” (Filiki
Eteria) in 1816. In 1829 Kapodistrias offered him a high position. During
Othon’s Reign in 1837 he was Mayor till 1841.
George
Boukaouris: In 1759 he was given the ownership of some olive trees at Metzena.
George and Sotiris Boukaouris witnessed the sale of a house in Patras in 1814.
Constantinos
Boukaouris: He was born in Patras and he died in Piza in 1851.
Aristidis
Boukaouris: Leader Garrison’s Captain in Patras during Othon’s Reign.
Dimitrios
Boukaouris: He was a lawyer and was a Mayor in Patras from 1914 till 1925.
Terpou Maria
Since
the Venice occupation many traders settled in Patras. The English population in
Patras was victims of the Spanish raid in 1595. There are many reports about
English pirates outside Patras and the west coastal regions of Greece, who
captured ships, brought them to Patras and sold their cargo. They owned small
ships –thirty men capacity each.
Vice-consul in Patras, in July 1611, was an
Englishman named Edward Golston. In 1640 consul was a trader, Erikos Hyder, who
had conflicted interests with Venetian benefits. Cargo ships of Kefallonia,
carried raisins from Zante to Patras, reloading on to English ships. This
transaction goes back, before the year of 1629.
From 1738 there is an increasing trading motion. In
1769 the Zante consul was transferred to Patras. During the second Turkish
invasion the English competed passionately to the Venetian trade in Patras.
The governor of the Ionic Island wrote to the
ambassador in Patras to recruit armed forces in favor of Ali Pasha. The
Englishmen from Zante warned the Turks via the ambassador of Patras, that the
revolution would begin on the 26th March 1821.
In December 1828 the English vice-consul suggests
that a consul should be posted in Patras. In September 1829, George Krobb was
appointed consul of the whole of Peloponese, based in Patras, received a
700-pound yearly salary.
Krobb arrived in Patras in 1830, and was given
hospitality by an English merchant called Robinson. Krobb wrote that the Greeks
were ungrateful while Robinson on the other hand blamed the English politics
against Greece. The second are undertook duties as vice-consul.
In February 1834, consul was the cosmopolitan Groe.
In 1839, Krobb created matters of small incidents, referring to English politics
against King Othon. The English ambassador asked for compensation.
From 1836 as vice-consul serves Patras the raisin
trader Th. Bood. In 1878 an English warship docked in Patras due to anti-English
demonstration from the Patras population. From 1891 there are already people
from Patras who lived in London.
In 1919 Cook was the consul and vice-consul was
John Mador. The English-Saxon church of Saint Andreas was build. The villas of
the English people were in Ities area, which cater was renamed “Egglezika”
In the first cemetery in Patras a lot of English
people are buried, such as Robinson, Hanver Warrington (consul in Patras in
1847), etc.
Vidali Maria
FAKIRI
BROTHERS: Merchants in Patras
One of them, Pantelis, was born in Chios Island. He
came to Patras from Chios when he was 35 years old and co-operated with
merchant-skippers from Galaxidi. Nikolaos
Fakiris upon coming will revive his father’s merchant business. The Fakiris
were the cause of a riot in Patras in 1837. The income tax was then introduced
and the Town council didn’t vote for the allotment of tax. The Perfunctory
unauthorisely sent them a 600-Dr, which they refused to pay. As results, the
processor-servers subtracted merchandise equal to the tax value. Immediately the
shops and the bakers were shut down. A complete anarchy! Finally the army
enforced piece in March. Pantelis became a vice consul of USA.
Vasilis
Kalatzis
Many German traders settled in Patras during the Venetian occupation, as
well as the monks of the Teutonic battalions. Gerald mentions Gaup and Sroter.
The fortresses in Peloponnese were still under the German flag, during the power
of Constantine Paleologo’s Empire. In 1687 German soldiers participated in the
army of Moroseness who came to Patras under the leadership of the Prince
Maximiliano Goulielmo. Thirty men were killed in Patras among which senator
Blutter and lieutenant Rabble.
In 1809 G. Pauel is mentioned as a «German consul
and ambassador» in Patras. During the siege of Patras in 1823, Kohen Rinder is
mentioned as the doctor of the camp. In 1829 Karning fond of Greeks died in
Patras.
The interchange of the merchantry between Patras and Germany took place
via Tergesti. Before the end of the 18th century, steam-navigations
were linked to German ports, exporting raisins, tobacco and wine.
The founder of the successful wine factory of Patras was the German
Hamburger, the German consul in Patras. His factory that was located in Mezonos
and Zaimi Street, was later developed into a post office. In 18th
century, at the same time Claus named this entire region after the “Gutland”
wine factory.
In 1908, head of the German Embassy was Miller. In
1913 ambassador was Henry Gaundere who was killed in 1914 in Belgium as sergeant
and vice-ambassador being Fisamber.
Other German trade centers in 1914 were: The Achaia
Clauss wine factory, Loher Ermann, Loher Max, Lukas and Co., Miller Kare and
Stoltenhof & Lucas.
Vasiliki – Lidia Georgopoulou
The
Greek family “Haireti” came from Vizadio. John, who was a merchant in Smirni,
changed his surname from Fragiokondakis to Gerousi. In 1821 the persecution led
John to go to Tergesti. In 1835 Sotiris’s son settled in Patras and became a
town councilor. In 1837 he and his brother Manolis, established themselves as
merchants, while Manolis’s son, Periklis, was appointed mayor in 1870, but he
declined it. Their office was on the ground floor of “England” hotel (Kolokotroni
and Othonos Amalias roads)
Emilios Gerousis was a doctor and settled in Patras
after his studies in Germany. Susana Gerousi donated the Pantokratora’s church
clock, which is still there today. In 1904, Aristomenis made in Patras an
“observation” about the content of raisins and suggestions for a better cost
of them.
Emilios Bedermaher Gerousis was a lawyer in Patras.
In 1970 he became professor of the Law School in Salonica. The family records
containing commercial interest are available in Patras.
Nora
Tsouni
Peter Golfinopoulos was barn in Kalavrita fought in Patras in 1821.
Athanasios, John and Elias Golfinopoulos from
Serres, fought in Patras under the authority of Petimezas. George Golfinopoulos
who was an ex-justice of lower court, a vice district Attorney and a layer in
Patras wrote “ideas about the Constitution of the country”.
Leonidas Golfinopoulos (1834-1914) was a
mayor-general in Patras. In 1897 as a brigadier general, fought against the
Turks. He got involved in politics under “Roufikon” party. He died and was
buried in Patras.
Christopoulou Georgia
Michael Kollas arrived to Patras from Zakinthos after the destruction of
his home. In 1834 he married Sophie Argiropoulou in Patras, where his sisters
Isabella and Angeliki got married as well. He died in 1873.
His son Andreas continued his fathers trading
company having a branch-shop in London. Mantzalis wounded him. His sons Michael
and Fokion, who lived in Patras until they grew very old, left a building at the
coast of Patras to the Municipal Library.
His brother Constantinos was born in Patras in 1881
and entered the Law schools. Since 1908 he was a diplomat, being an ambassador
until 1947. His brother Kimon was born in 1882 and served the diplomatic service
until 1948, when he resigned.
Christos Kalatzis
Kotsis Koumaniotis was a Greek guerilla warrior entrusted with police
duties in Patras. Thanos, Constantine, Jim, Stamatis and Aggelos
Chrisanthakopoulos, who are mentioned as Koumaniotis, were captains. They served
under the English army at the Ionian islands. They had their own flag, which is
kept till today. They became members of the friendly society (Filiki Eteria).
Stamatis Koumaniotis escorted Odysseus Androutsos to Pasha Veli in 1820.
The Koumaniotis brothers took part to the siege defense in Patras. The
Koumaniotis were perceived at the fight of Saint Paraskevi Aleksiotissa.
Thanos Koumaniotis was dominated to be the chief during the siege of
Patras. The Greek National Assembly accepted the proposal. Kolokotronis situated
Koumaniotis brothers with soldiers from Patras at the fight on 9.3.1822 in the
area of Gyrokomio. Kolokotronis appointed them as chiefs of Patras provinces in
1827.
Chrisanthakis was helped to repress the muting at Merediti in 1847. Jim
Koumaniotis was a Member of Parliament in 1831 and 1847. Nicholas was a Member
of Parliament and a prefect. Golfinos was a lawyer and journalist.
Their flag was offered to the historical museum of Patras.
Crisanthakopoulou
Kali
John Pratsikas who was a political figure of Droviani in North Epirus,
was killed by Ali Pasha, while his son Sideris from Corfu settled in Patras,
after the revolution. Patras residential list mentions that they came from
Delvino in North Epirus before 1844. Sideris bought 9 1/8 acres of land from
Dim. Papadiamantopoulo at the sight of St. John’s Pratsika. He was elected a
senator during Othon’s Reign. Sideris was mentioned in Bavarian Stoib’s book
in 1836, as a rich merchant, who used to offer luxurious dinners. He died in
14.7.1858 and he was the manager of an insurance company called “The Proodos”.
His children Nicholaos, Dimitrios and Spiridon
built a church in 1850, which exists up to now. The area that was called Portes
was named after them.
Nicholaos Pratsikas was born in 1813 in Droviani of
Epirus. He went to Corfu and from there he came to Patras. He was one of the
first residents of the town and was elected a council advisor.
Pliatsika Georgia
Olympic champion was worldwide known in weight lifting. At the Olympic
games in 1906 he won the Austrian professional athlete Stainbach. Two years
later he went to the U.S.A., where, he firstly did weight lifting shows and then
he started practicing in free style wrestling as a professional. He had been the
coach of the world famous Greek Jimmies Lodos who he accompanied in Athens when
he fought with Zmbisko at Panathinaiko Stadium.
In 1952 he settled for good in Patras. Tofalos was
the main founder person of the Greek- American athletic club “Ermis” in New
York, club that revealed many good Greek athletes. Let’s start from the
begging.
Tofalos became known in 1901 in the Panhellenic
games where, even though he didn’t win (he was second), he impressed people
with his body fitness. So, on May 6th 1904 in the Panathenean Stadium
he lifted 111 okades and when he was 20 years old he broke the world record in
weightlifting. Tofalos was a young man of 1.72 m height and be weighed 100 kgr
without a gram of fat. This only shows the size of his muscles and his
tremendous bodybuilding.
Due to a sudden illness, Tofalos lost the games of
Saint Louis in 1904. But he went on and won in the Panhellenic Games in 1906
where he won 14 medals. The same year he triumphed in the Midolympics where he
broke his own record lifting 142 kilos and 400 grams winning the gold medal.
Tofalos was the world champion until 1914 when the game rules changed. In 1908
Tofalos is said to have lifted 164 kilos, record which of course was not
recognized.
That same year as he was very fit, he gives up
amateur athleticism and he struggles for living, travelling from country to
country. In 1910 Tofalos goes to the USA where within 60 days he becomes top in
free wrestling.
He competes with very important wrestlers and he
wins them all quite easily. His fame as a wrestler travels on.
In the post war years (1912-1913) from 1916-1923 no one had the time to
mention the Champion in Greece. In 1916 Tofalos won five games out of nine and
had 4 draws. After a consecutive series of wins Tofalos, finally returns home in
1952.In his entire life, as an athlete, he won almost everything (141 trophies
as an amateur and 251 as a professional). Since 1923 he was Jimmy Lodos coach
the world-wrestling champion. He finally died in 1966 in Patras from pneumonia.
He is remembered as “the giant with golden heart” with no enemies. The city
of Patras honored him during his life and also after his death.
Georgios
Roumeliotis
Stavros
Soulis
Andreas
Tsourekis
During the period 1870-1900 Patras communicates with the inland by 3
railways: Athens- Patras, Pyrgos-Patras and this of the NW Greece. Furthermore
bigger roads facilitate the transportation of merchandise and passengers. The
communication via the sea is achieved with the help of four companies, which
build ships. As a result Patra can communicate with the central and Western
Europe. These companies are: the “New Hellenic Shipping Company”, the “Panhellinion”,
the “Austrian Lloyd” and the Italian “Florio-Robotino”. By these means
of transport Patra can communicate with both inland and overseas. That’s the
reason why Patra’s middle class consists of merchants and landowners.
Trade is developed and Patra flourishes (thrives)
due to it. The main exported product is raising imported by England during the
19th century (the most important importer of raisin).
The first noteworthy initiative occurred between
the years 1850 and 1860 and during the years, which followed the movement,
increased until 1880 when a decline took place.
However, as from 1890, the presuppositions for the
passing to industry developed slowly but surely Patra becomes the first town in
Greece in which the first water-driven spinning-mill ran and the first engine
moved by steam in the factory of George Kogos. One of main initiative was the
establishment of the “Commercial Company G. Triantis Sons” who, after ten
years, cooperated Gerasimos Kogos (Triantis’ brother in law) and together they
re-established the Cotton-spinning factory and the Steam-mill.
In 1873 Charalambos Triantis, from Amfissa, a town
of Greece, extended and improved the big (Cylinder- Mill) in the port, which he
ran under the name “Gh.G.Triantis Mills”. The cooperation Triantis-Kogos
lasted until 1885 when Triantis retired and the running of the company went on
under its first name.
Nikiforos Pavlatos
|
|
