Ioannis Kapodistrias

Count Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831) was an important political leader and diplomat from Greece in the early 1800s. He was born in Corfu when it was ruled by Venice. His family was well-known, with his father being a nobleman and artist. He started his career in politics in Corfu and later became Modern Greece's first Governor after the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

His Excellency Count Ioannis Kapodistrias
Ιωάννης Αντώνιος Καποδίστριας
Portrait by Greek painter Dionysios Tsokos
Personal details
Born	1776 Corfu
Died	1831 Nauplion
Nationality	Greek
Alma mater	University of Padua
Signature

Before becoming Governor, Kapodistrias worked for Russian Empire's government and helped Greece gain independence. He was good at diplomacy and had big ideas for how to run a country. His diplomatic skills earned him admiration and recognition.

He didn't just influence Greece though. He also helped Switzerland become neutral and organized its government. His efforts in shaping the destinies of both Greece and Switzerland demonstrate his influence and legacy. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is named after him. Statues of Ioannis Kapodistrias can be found in Athens, Saint Petersburg and Lausanne. He was also featured on the 500 drachma banknote in recent years before Greece switched to using the euro on January 1, 2002.

However, he faced opposition during his time in office, which ultimately led to his assassination in 1831 while he was still serving as Governor in Nafplio. He is buried in his hometown of Corfu.

Related pages

• Greek War of Independence

Other websites

• Capodistrias Museum

• Media related to Ioannis Kapodistrias at Wikimedia Commons