Alexandros Diomidis
Encyclopedia
Alexandros Diomedes (January 3, 1875–November 11, 1950) was a former governor of the Central Bank of Greece
who became Prime Minister of Greece upon the death of Themistoklis Sophoulis
.
Diomedes was born in Athens, Greece to an Arvanite
family from Spetses
on January 3, 1875. His grandfather was former Prime Minister Diomidis Kiriakos
. He studied law and economics in Weimar
and Paris
and earned a doctorate
from the University of Berlin. In 1905, he became a professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
.
He was a member of the Athens Academy
.
Diomedes was appointed prefect
("nomarch") of Attica
-Boeotia in 1909. In 1910, he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament
under the banner of the Liberal Party
. From 1912 to 1915 and again in 1922 he served as Minister for Finance.
Diomedes became Governor of the National Bank of Greece
in 1923 and Governor of the Bank of Greece
in 1928.
He became Prime Minister upon the death of Sophoulis. It was during his term in office (June 28, 1949–January 6, 1950) that the Greek Civil War
was concluded.
Diomedes was forced to resign amid a scandal involving his Minister for Transport, Hadjipanos. He died later in that same year (November 11, 1950).
Besides being an economist and politician, Diomedes also authored several literary works, including a two-volume work on Byzantine Empire
studies.
Along with his wife Julia, Dimides left part of his fortune to the Greek state for the purposes of establishing a botanical garden
in Athens, opened in 1952 as the "Julia and Alexander N. Diomides Botanic Garden".
Bank of Greece
The Bank of Greece is the nationalcentral bank of Greece, located in Athens on Panepistimiou Street, with several branches across the country. Founded in 1927...
who became Prime Minister of Greece upon the death of Themistoklis Sophoulis
Themistoklis Sophoulis
Themistoklis Sofoulis or Sophoulis was a prominent centrist Greek politician from Samos Island, belonging to the centre-left wing of the Liberal Party, which he led for many years.-Early life:...
.
Diomedes was born in Athens, Greece to an Arvanite
Arvanites
Arvanites are a population group in Greece who traditionally speak Arvanitika, a dialect of the Albanian language. They settled in Greece during the late Middle Ages and were the dominant population element of some regions of the Peloponnese and Attica until the 19th century...
family from Spetses
Spetses
Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia...
on January 3, 1875. His grandfather was former Prime Minister Diomidis Kiriakos
Diomidis Kiriakos
Diomidis Anastasiou Kyriakos was a Greek author, politician and Prime Minister. Kiriakos was born in 1811 on the island of Spetses. He was the younger brother of Ioannis Kyriakos, a vice-admiral who was killed in the siege of Messolonghi. He studied law at the universities of Pisa and Paris...
. He studied law and economics in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and earned a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the University of Berlin. In 1905, he became a professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , usually referred to simply as the University of Athens, is the oldest university in Southeast Europe and has been in continuous operation since its establishment in 1837. Today, it is the second-largest institution of higher learning in Greece,...
.
He was a member of the Athens Academy
Athens Academy
Athens Academy is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school originally founded in Athens, now located in Oconee County, Georgia, United States. The school sponsors grades K through 12, and also operates a preschool. It was founded in 1967. The school's motto is Excellentia Cum Honore...
.
Diomedes was appointed prefect
Prefectures of Greece
During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and then again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures were the country's main administrative unit...
("nomarch") of Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
-Boeotia in 1909. In 1910, he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament
Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament , also the Parliament of the Hellenes, is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House , overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece....
under the banner of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Greece)
The Liberal Party was one of the major Greek political parties of the early 20th century.- History :Founded as the Xipoliton party in Crete , its early leaders were Kostis Mitsotakis and Eleftherios Venizelos...
. From 1912 to 1915 and again in 1922 he served as Minister for Finance.
Diomedes became Governor of the National Bank of Greece
National Bank of Greece
The National Bank of Greece is the oldest and largest commercial banking group in Greece. The group has a particularly strong presence in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean...
in 1923 and Governor of the Bank of Greece
Bank of Greece
The Bank of Greece is the nationalcentral bank of Greece, located in Athens on Panepistimiou Street, with several branches across the country. Founded in 1927...
in 1928.
He became Prime Minister upon the death of Sophoulis. It was during his term in office (June 28, 1949–January 6, 1950) that the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
was concluded.
Diomedes was forced to resign amid a scandal involving his Minister for Transport, Hadjipanos. He died later in that same year (November 11, 1950).
Besides being an economist and politician, Diomedes also authored several literary works, including a two-volume work on Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
studies.
Along with his wife Julia, Dimides left part of his fortune to the Greek state for the purposes of establishing a botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
in Athens, opened in 1952 as the "Julia and Alexander N. Diomides Botanic Garden".