Ioannis Pesmazoglou

Ioannis Pesmazoglou
Born	1857 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Died	1906
Occupation(s)	Economist, banker, politician
Years active	c. 1882–1906
Known for	Founder of a banking institution merged with Bank of Athens; founder of Privileged Company for the Protection of Currants; member of Hellenic Parliament

Ioannis Pesmazoglou (; 1857–1906) was a prominent Greek economist, banker, and political figure who resided in the Ottoman Empire and Egypt before moving to Greece approximately in 1882.

Born in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) with ancestral ties to Enderlik in Cappadocia, Pesmazoglou pursued his economic studies in Paris. He began his career at Crédit Lyonnais in Alexandria, Egypt, and by 1882 had advanced to lead the Anglo-Egyptian Bank. Upon settling in Athens, he established a banking institution that later merged with the Bank of Athens in 1897; following this merger, Pesmazoglou assumed the role of chairman and continued as a board member until his passing.

In response to the economic downturn triggered by declining prices of Corinthian raisins—a vital Greek export—he founded the Privileged Company for the Protection of Currants (Eniaia) alongside the Wine and Alcohol Company. Additionally, he championed educational initiatives by supporting night schools tailored for members of the Athens Trade Employees Union. His political career began in 1900, culminating in his election to the Hellenic Parliament in 1905 and again in 1906, representing the constituencies of Athens, Elis, and Messenia.

Among his children were Andreas, who served in the Greek Navy until his premature death at age 27 in 1927, and Stefanos, a journalist who established the newspaper Proia.

The family burial site of Pesmazoglou is situated within the First Cemetery of Athens.

References

Sources

• This article's initial version was translated and adapted from the Greek Wikipedia entry here