Andreas Metaxas

Who was Andreas Metaxas?

Andreas Metaxas was a Greek politician born on the island of Cephalonia.

During the latter part of the War of Independence he accompanied Kapodistrias to Greece, and was appointed by him Minister of War. He was a devout supporter of Kapodistrias and after his assassination in 1831, Metaxas became a member of the provisional government which held office till the accession of King Otto in 1833. During the minority of Otto he was named privy councillor and minister at Madrid and Lisbon. He was a leader in the so-called Russian Party which was the most conservative of the three early parties.

In 1840 he was recalled and appointed minister of war. Having come to power in the 3 September 1843 Revolution, in 1843-1844 he was president of the Council of Ministers, and he subsequently held the post of ambassador at Constantinople from 1850 to 1854. He died in Athens in 1860.