Nikolaos Stournaras (1806–1853) is one of Greece’s National Benefactors having used his wealth to donate large pieces of land to various Greek charities.

History

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 re ...

in 1806. Stournaras was an Aromanian. He was the son of

Michael Tositsas Michael Tositsas ( el, Μιχαήλ Τόσιτσας) was a national benefactor from modern-day Greece. He was an Aromanian. He was born in Metsovo in 1787, and in 1806 he took over his father's fur shop in Thessaloniki, together with his brother ...

’ sister. After completing his schooling in Metsovo, he went to

Livorno Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...

, Italy where he worked in the Tositsas family business. Then he was sent to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

to study in the Superior School of Trade and Industry. After finishing his studies, he moved to

Alexandria, Egypt 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, Alexandria ...

where he worked as an assistant of his uncle Michael Tositsas and then as manager of the Tositsas Trading House. His visits to the agricultural and industrial centers of Europe and his studies in European schools gave him the idea to use his vast wealth to subsidize common good projects that would contribute to the development of Greece. He purchased large parcels of land in

Fthiotida Phthiotis ( el, Φθιώτιδα, ''Fthiótida'', ; ancient Greek and Katharevousa: Φθιῶτις) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. The capital is the city of Lamia. It is border ...

and donated large amounts to educational and charity institutions in Alexandria and Athens and for the foundation of a school in Metsovo. In 1853, he came to Greece to work on development projects but he suddenly died. His development plans included a railroad that would connect Athens to Piraeus and the establishment of a shipping company that would connect Piraeus with the Greek islands and coastal towns. In his will, he left large amounts for charity, for the schools of Metsovo and Alexandria and for the establishment of a Polytechnic school in Greece.

References

*I. Chatzifotis, “Oi Metsovites stin Aleksandreia” he Metsovites in Alexandria Minutes of the 1st conference of Metsovite Studies, Athens 1993, pp. 87–96. *A. Goudas, Vioi Paralliloi ton epi tis anagenniseos tis Ellados diaprepsanton andron, Ploutos h’ Emporion arallel lives of the men who excelled during the Renaissance, Wealth and Commerce Vol. C’, ek tou typographeiou M. P. Peridou, Athens 1870, pp. 289–318. *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 publ. Grammata, Aleksandreia-Athens 1928-1930, pp. 172,219,239,240. *V. Skafidas, “Istoria tou Metsovou” istory of Metsovo Epirotiki Estia 12/132 (1963), pp. 291–293. *G. Plataris-Tzimas, Kodikas Diathikon, Meizones kai elassones euergetes tou Metsovou og of Wills, Major and Minor Benefactors of Metsovo Vol. A’, publ. of the Prefecture of Ioannina and the City of Metsovo, Metsovo/Athens 2004, pp. 174–178. {{DEFAULTSORT:Stournaras, Nikolaos Greek philanthropists 1806 births 1853 deaths 19th-century philanthropists Aromanians from the Ottoman Empire Greek people of Aromanian descent People from Metsovo