Konstantinos Kanaris

Konstantinos Kanaris (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Κανάρης, Konstantínos Kanáris; c. 1790 – 2 September 1877), also anglicised as Constantine Kanaris or Canaris, was a Greek statesman, an admiral, and a hero of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829).

Despite not having been a member of the revolutionary organization Filiki Eteria, his fleet engaged in several successful battles and operations against the Ottoman Navy from 1821 to 1824, most famously burning the Ottoman flagship off Chios in 1822, in retaliation for the Chios massacre; this action elevated him to the status of national hero. Despite the destruction of his home island Psara in 1824, and the ambitious, but failed Raid on Alexandria in 1825, he remained a prominent ally of Ioannis Kapodistrias (in office as Governor of Greece from 1828 to 1831) until the latter's assassination in 1831, which led to his retirement.

After the 3 September 1843 Revolution, Kanaris returned to public life as a prominent member of the powerful Russian Party and became the Kingdom of Greece's second prime minister in 1844, presiding over the fall of his party in government. During King Otto's constitutional reign (1843 to 1862), Kanaris returned as prime minister in 1848, and became minister of the navy in 1854, after the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853. He played a prominent role in Otto's deposition in 1862, and under King George I became prime minister twice in 1864, resigning both times to retire in Athens. He returned to the premiership to lead a grand coalition government in 1877 before dying 99 days later of a heart attack, becoming the second prime minister to die in office. His most significant actions as head of government were the ratification of the country's first two constitutions, in 1844 and 1864.

He remains a celebrated figure among Greeks and is recognised as the maritime leader of the Greek revolutionaries during the War of Independence.