Spiridon Ilo (30 September 1876 – 7 November 1950) was one of the

founding father The following list of national founding figures is a record, by country, of people who were credited with establishing a state. National founders are typically those who played an influential role in setting up the systems of governance, (i.e. ...

s of

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

as a signatory of the

Albanian Declaration of Independence The Albanian Declaration of Independence ( Albanian: ''Deklarata e Pavarësisë'') was the declaration of independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Six days later the Assem ...

. Ilo was born in

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau some ...

, in the Manastir Vilayet of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

(present-day

) in 1876.
He worked as a teacher in the girls' school of his home town founded by the

Kyrias family Kyrias family ( sq, Familja Qiriazi) were a prominent Albanian family from Manastir (today's North Macedonia). They were educators, translators, publishers, and public figures of the Albanian National Awakening period. They are remembered for th ...

. He later emigrated to

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

where he was part and active member of the Albanian colony. In December 1909, he participate in the theatrical play ''"Besa"'' (English: ''Faith'') together with

Dhimitër Beratti Dhimitër Beratti or Berati (15 October 1886 – 8 September 1970) was an Albanian politician and journalist. One of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence Beratti served as secretary of the Albanian delegation at the Pa ...

. Ilo is said to have brought the Albanian flag to Albania in the Declaration of Independence in 1912, one of the versions of the non well-clarified origin of the Albanian flag of the 28 November 1912. The mostly accepted version so far is that the flag was

embroidered Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on c ...

by his relative

Marigo Posio Marigo Posio ( née Poçi; 1882–1932) was one of the most distinguished Albanian women, an activist of the Albanian National Awakening and Independence Movement, and consolidating the social status of Albanian women. She is mostly remembered ...

.
In 1913, he returned to Romania and in 1916 emigrated to New York where he continued his patriotic work. In 1923 he founded the first Albanian recording company, ''Albanian Phonograf Records'', and recorded the Albanian national anthem written by Asdreni and music from Porumbescu. In 1946, he donated to his native city the technology and equipment of the recording studio, which unfortunately was destroyed later for reusing some parts for building the antenna of Radio Korça. In 1926, he returned to Korçë where he lived the rest of his life. During these years, he published and sold patriotic postcards. He also published the comedy "Vërtet ëndërr" (''Really a dream'') and also a song collection "Dëshirat e zemrës" (''Desires of the heart''). He died in Korçë in 1950.

References

"History of Albanian People" Albanian Academy of Science. 1876 births 1950 deaths People from Korçë People from Manastir vilayet Albanians from the Ottoman Empire Eastern Orthodox Christians from Albania Signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence Activists of the Albanian National Awakening Albanian expatriates in the United States Albanian expatriates in Romania All-Albanian Congress delegates {{Albania-politician-stub