Michael Tositsas ( el, Μιχαήλ Τόσιτσας) was a national benefactor from modern-day
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
. He was an
Aromanian. He was born in
Metsovo
Metsovo ( el, Μέτσοβο; rup, Aminciu) is a town in Epirus, in the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the west and Meteora to the east.
The largest centre of Aromanian (Vlach) life in Greece, Metsovo is a large r ...
in 1787, and in 1806 he took over his father's fur shop in
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...
, together with his brothers. After developing his business significantly, he sent his brothers to Egypt to open a branch there while he opened branches in
Livorno and
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
. He married
Eleni Tositsa
Eleni Tositsa (1796-1 April 1866; Greek: Ελένη Τοσίτσα) was a major benefactor to cultural and educational establishments in Greece, including the National Archaeological Museum and the National Technical University of Athens.
Eleni ...
in 1818.
In 1820 he moved to Malta himself. His acquaintance with Egypt's
Prince Regent Mohammed Ali resulted in the Prince taking high esteem in him and appointing him his personal advisor as well as at the helm of the first state bank, the head of the Nile Riverboat company and administrator of his land.
Tositsas, who became one of Egypt's most powerful landowners, also served as Greece's first General Consul in
Alexandria
Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandri ...
and is generally regarded as the father of
Hellenism of Egypt. He contributed to the establishment of the Greek Community and, together with his brothers, he helped the community develop significant educational and religious infrastructure. In 1854 he moved to Athens where he died in 1856. His charitable work was not limited to Alexandria but was equally important in Athens, Thessaloniki and his birthplace Metsovo. In his will he left vast amounts for aid for the poor and the support of hospitals, churches and schools. Among them the most notable ones are his contributions to the
University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA; el, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών, ''Ethnikó ke Kapodistriakó Panepistímio Athinón''), usually referred to simply as the Univers ...
, the Arsakio School and the
National Technical University of Athens
The National (Metsovian) Technical University of Athens (NTUA; el, Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο, ''National Metsovian Polytechnic''), sometimes known as Athens Polytechnic, is among the oldest higher education institution ...
. After his death, his wife
Eleni continued his charity work by donating large amounts to educational and charity organizations as well as for the construction and completion of the National Technical University of Athens. His younger brother, Theodore, who also became very wealthy in Egypt, returned to Greece after the liberation from the Ottomans and donated the largest part of his wealth to foundations.
References
Sources
#G. Plataris, “Oi Tositsides sto Livorno”
he Tositsa family in Livorno Epirotiko Imerologio 1984, pp. 199–206.
#A. Politou, O Ellinismos kai I Neotera Aigyptos, Vol. A’, I istoria tou aigyptiotou ellinismou 1798-1927
reeks and modern Egypt, vol A, the history of Greeks of Egypt, 1798-1927, publ. Grammata, Aleksandreia-Athens 1928-1930, 165-167, 172,175-176, 191-222, 237-240, 243,-247.
#V. Skafidas, “Istoria tou Metsovou”
istory of Metsovo Epirotiki Estia 12/131, 132 (1963), pp. 194–200, 293-294
#A. Goudas, Vioi Paralliloi ton epi tis anagenniseos tis Ellados diaprepsanton andron
arallel lives of the men who excelled during the Renaissance, Wealth and Commerce, Vol. D’, ek tou typografeiou Ch. N. Philadelpheos, Athens 1871, 447-486.
#I. Chatzifotis, “Oi Metsovites stin Aleksandreia”
he Metsovites in Alexandria Minutes of the 1st conference of Metsovite Studies, Athens 1993, pp. 87–96
#G. Plataris-Tzimas, Kodikas Diathikon, Meizones kai elassones euergetes tou Metsovou
og of Wills, Major and Minor Benefactors of Metsovo publ. of the Prefecture of Ioannina and the City of Metsovo, Metsovo/Athens 2004, Vol. A’, pp. 179–207, Vol. B’ pp. 203–217, Vol. C’ pp. 69–71.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tositsas, Michael
1787 births
1856 deaths
Greek businesspeople
Aromanians from the Ottoman Empire
Greek people of Aromanian descent
Burials at the First Cemetery of Athens
People from Metsovo