3-070-802 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

M. Coumoundouros, Prime Minister of Greece, 1881. Engraving from a photograph by Moraites. 'M. Alexander Coumoundouros...is just now a conspicuous personage in European diplomacy. He is about sixty years of age, and entered the Chamber of Deputies as a representative of Messene, nearly thirty years ago. He was elected President of the Chamber, and was subsequently appointed a Minister of...Finance; and the first thing he did on assuming office was to propose...a bill for the recognition of the old Greek debts of 1824 and 1825, contracted [during] the great national struggle for independence...The attempt failed at that time; and...the affair continued to remain in suspense until, about two years ago, the opportunity was given to M. Coumoundouros of thus rehabilitating the credit of his country. M. Coumoundouros has often been called the Cavour of Greece; and he is undoubtedly the most popular man in the country. He has ruled Greece repeatedly as a Prime Minister, and longer than any other contemporary Greek statesman...With reference to the claims of the Greek nationality, his name has always been associated with a policy of action, having in his younger days personally taken part as a volunteer in one of the Cretan insurrections'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.