George Jarvis (Philhellene)
Encyclopedia
George Jarvis - was the first of American Philhellenes who took part in the Greek Revolution.
, Denmark
, (today western borough of Hamburg
, Germany
) was the son of Benjamin Jarvis, an American diplomat on assignment in Europe
. While Jarvis was student in German university, he fired by enthusiasm for the Greek Revolution. Jarvis sailed for Greece with Frank Abney Hastings
, a Royal Navy officer, arriving on the island of Hydra
on April 3.
Jarvis serving as an officer in the Greek Navy from 1822 to 1824
with Manolis Tobazis
, a captain and shipowner from Hydra.
.
Jarvis was a true philhellene who endangered his life to come to the aid of Greece and her people. Upon his arrival in Greece in 1822 he put the "fustanela" (uniform of the Greek fighter), he taught himself to read and write Greek and thereafter Greek fighters call him Captain “George Zervas or Zervos, the American.”
.
After Lord Byron’s arrival in Greece, Jarvis left Hydra for the town of Missolonghi, in western Central Greece, and served as Lord Byron’s adjutant until his death in April 18, 1824. Under guidance of Greek engineer M.Kokkinis he also helped fortify in both Missolonghi and Aitolico.
In August 1824 under Prince Mavrocordato’s leadership, he took part in the expedition to the northern Turkish strongholds of Kravassaras (Amfilohia) and Makrynoros
, in the province of Epirus
.
.
During the invasion of Egyptian Pasha Ibrahim to the Peloponnese
, he assumed the expenses for the 45 soldiers sent to Methoni, Messinia.
From 1827 until his death on August 11, 1828, Jarvis along with Samuel Gridley Howe
and Jonathan Peckam Miller, as members of the Philhellene committee of America continue to contribute by distributing much needed medication, clothing and food to Greek population who had suffered during this time. George Jarvis died August 11, 1828 most probably because of teanus ( or typhus). He was buried within the premises of Agios Ioannis church in the city of Argos
, with the rank of Lieutenant General.
.
Biography
George Jarvis, born in AltonaAltona
Altona may refer to:* Altona, Hamburg, Germany** Altona-Nord, Hamburg, Germany*Altona, Illinois, United States*Altona, Indiana, United States*Altona, Manitoba, Canada*Altona , New York, located in Clinton County or...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, (today western borough of Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) was the son of Benjamin Jarvis, an American diplomat on assignment in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. While Jarvis was student in German university, he fired by enthusiasm for the Greek Revolution. Jarvis sailed for Greece with Frank Abney Hastings
Frank Abney Hastings
Frank Abney Hastings was a British naval officer and Philhellene.- Early career :He was the son of Lieut.-general Sir Charles Hastings of Willesley Hall, a natural son of Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon...
, a Royal Navy officer, arriving on the island of Hydra
Hydra
Hydra is the name of the Lernaean Hydra, a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology."Hydra" may also refer to:- Astronomy :* Hydra , the largest of the modern star constellations* Hydra , a satellite of Pluto...
on April 3.
Jarvis serving as an officer in the Greek Navy from 1822 to 1824
with Manolis Tobazis
Emmanouil Tombazis
Emmanouil Tombazis was a Greek naval captain from Hydra, active during the Greek War of Independence, who was appointed Commissioner of Crete for the Greek provisional government in 1823–1824 and naval minister for a short period in 1828....
, a captain and shipowner from Hydra.
.
Jarvis was a true philhellene who endangered his life to come to the aid of Greece and her people. Upon his arrival in Greece in 1822 he put the "fustanela" (uniform of the Greek fighter), he taught himself to read and write Greek and thereafter Greek fighters call him Captain “George Zervas or Zervos, the American.”
.
After Lord Byron’s arrival in Greece, Jarvis left Hydra for the town of Missolonghi, in western Central Greece, and served as Lord Byron’s adjutant until his death in April 18, 1824. Under guidance of Greek engineer M.Kokkinis he also helped fortify in both Missolonghi and Aitolico.
In August 1824 under Prince Mavrocordato’s leadership, he took part in the expedition to the northern Turkish strongholds of Kravassaras (Amfilohia) and Makrynoros
Makrynoros
The Makrynoros or the Makrinoros mountains is a mountain range dominating the northern part of the Aitolia-Akarnania prefecture in western Greece. Its length is approximately 25 to 30 km from north to south and its width is approximately 10 km from east to west. The Ionian Sea lies to the west...
, in the province of Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
.
.
During the invasion of Egyptian Pasha Ibrahim to the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, he assumed the expenses for the 45 soldiers sent to Methoni, Messinia.
From 1827 until his death on August 11, 1828, Jarvis along with Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe was a nineteenth century United States physician, abolitionist, and an advocate of education for the blind.-Early life and education:...
and Jonathan Peckam Miller, as members of the Philhellene committee of America continue to contribute by distributing much needed medication, clothing and food to Greek population who had suffered during this time. George Jarvis died August 11, 1828 most probably because of teanus ( or typhus). He was buried within the premises of Agios Ioannis church in the city of Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, with the rank of Lieutenant General.
.