Spyridon Trikoupis (April 8/20, 1788 - February 12/24, 1873)

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Spyridon Trikoupis (April 8/20, 1788 - February 12/24, 1873) was one of the most significant political figures in the first 50 years of the newly established Greek state. He served in the struggle for Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire, but above all, he contributed to the foundation of modern political and social institutions through the positions (ministerial and others) he held throughout his political life.

He was the first Prime Minister of the new Greek state, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Greece to perhaps the most important diplomatic post of the time, the Greek Embassy in London. He was also a co-drafter of the first Greek Constitution and the father of the equally significant Greek figure, Charilaos Trikoupis.

He was also involved in historiography, authoring the "History of the Greek Revolution," a reference book for the period of 1821.

Biography He was born in Messolonghi in 1788, to the wealthy family of the same name in the region. His father was Ioannis Trikoupis, and his mother was Alexandra Palama. After his primary education at the Palamades School in Messolonghi and then in Patras, he continued his studies in Europe, where he studied philology in Rome and Paris, but he interrupted his studies when the Greek Revolution broke out and returned to actively participate in it. In 1824, he took part in the Third Assembly of Western Greece in Eastern.

From 1824, when his father died, he became involved in politics, and was elected as a representative of Messolonghi to the National Assemblies. From 1826, he was a member of the Provisional Revolutionary Government, where he continued throughout the war to be at the forefront of political activity, becoming one of the most important men of the nation, especially in managing the foreign affairs of that critical period.

Under Ioannis Kapodistrias, he was appointed Secretary-General of External Affairs. Later, he disagreed with the policy of the Governor and resigned from his position, as well as from his role as a representative of Messolonghi. As a political opponent, he worked with Alexandros Mavrokordatos, whose sister, Aikaterini, he married. He took refuge, among other political adversaries, in Hydra. After the assassination of Kapodistrias, he returned to Nafplio, where he was responsible for foreign affairs and directed the negotiations that led to the election of Otto.

Bust of Spyridon Trikoupis. National Historical Museum, Athens

During the Regency, Spyridon Trikoupis was appointed Prime Minister and Secretary (Minister) of the Territory in charge of the Royal House and Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Greece. However, coming into conflict with the authoritarian tendencies of the Bavarian circles around Otto, he resigned and took charge of the Greek Embassy in London. In 1838, after another confrontation with Otto, he was recalled. He returned to his position in 1841. In 1843, he returned to Greece and participated in the National Assembly of 1843, contributing to the adoption of the Constitution of 1844 and participating in Mavrokordatos' government as Secretary of the Royal House and Foreign Affairs, and Education. However, after the overthrow of Mavrokordatos' government, Spyridon Trikoupis, as a senator, joined the so-called English Party, from which he distanced himself when it began to show signs of rebellion. He later supported the government of Koundouriotis and assisted King Otto. When the Embassies were re-established, Spyridon Trikoupis took charge again of the Greek Embassy in London until 1861, when he resigned for health reasons. He died in Athens in 1873.

In 1829, his speeches were published in the first collected edition. In 1857, his four-volume work "History of the Greek Revolution" was published in London, and he had also written popular patriotic songs like: "The People," "The Lake of Messolonghi," "The Time, Brothers, of Freedom is Coming," and others.