Page 421 - Beholding Liberty!

ΙΙΙ.7.5
Report of the plenipotentiaries of Spetses
and Psara about the admission to the Executive Body of Panagiotis Botassis
(Tripolis, 23 June 1823)
Archives of the Greek Regeneration, vol. 9, no 201 [pp. 228-229] Library of the Hellenic Parliament
GIVEN THAT, on one hand, the three islands, Hydra, Spetses and Psara, are entitled to have a member as representative in the Executive Body, and, on the other hand, in the course of the preceding administrative period, the representative came from Hydra, the plenipotentiaries of Spetres and Psara propose as fair the introduction in the Body of the Spetsiot Panagiotis Botassis. Indeed, the latter became initially member and then vice-presi- dent of the Executive.
Panagiotis Botassis (1784 – 1824)
BORN IN A HISTORICAL SPETSIOT FAMILY of Epirotic or- igin, he got interested in the pre-revolution period in trade and shipping and acquired a great fortune. He took part in the Orlov revolt (1770).
Together with Georgios Panou on 3 April 1821 he raised the flag of the Revolution at the Chancellery (Headquarters) of Spetses. In the Struggle he distinguished himself as also did other mem- bers of his family, such as Gikas, Nikolaos and Theodosios Bo- tassis. Members of a progressive and liberal family, they sup- ported financially the naval forces of their island, as well as the Struggle in general.
Panagiotis Botassis was appointed by Dimitrios Ypsilantis ephor of Spetses and in autumn 1823 he arrived, commanding a small fleet, at Missolonghi, where he remained until 1824.
Following a relevant proposal by his compatriots, he served ini- tially as member and then as Vice-President of the Executive that was formed in October 1824, with Georgios Kountouriotis as President.
Η ΑΦΥΠΝΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Από την αρχαιολατρία στον Φιλελληνισμό 421