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People
Philhellenes (1821-1829)
Richard Church (1784-1873)
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Sir Richard Church (1784-1873). Richard Church took part in the Napoleonic Wars [Napoleone Buonaparte]. He was a British General and Commander-in-Chief of the Greek Army (1827).
In 1809 he took part in the seizure of Zakinthos {Ζάκυνθος}, Kefallinia {Κεφαλληνία}, Ithaki {Ιθάκη} and Kithira {Κύθηρα} islands which were under French rule. He founded a regiment of light infantry on Zakinthos and fought on Lefkas {Λευκάς} island in 1810, as its leader. He was seriously wounded there. He played a leading role in containing the liberation movements in southern Italy and Sicily.
In 1827 he arrived in Ermionis {Ερμιονίς} and was given a warm welcome by the Greeks, but their expectations remained unfulfilled. Possesssing no particular military prowess, his joining forces with Cochrane [People] for a direct attack against Reşit Mehmet Paşa (Kutahi) (1780-1839, Ottoman General and Grand Vezir) in spite of Karaiskakis' [People] opposition, resulted in disaster for the Greeks at Analato {Ανάλατο}, the surrender of the Acropolis {Ακρόπολις}, and the supression of the uprising in Mainland Greece.
After the Battle of Navarino {Ναυαρίνο}, Church broke away, went to western Mainland Greece and managed to put together an army barracks at Dragamesto {Δραγαμέστο}. When Avgoustinos Kapodistrias {Αυγουστίνος Καποδίστριας} was appointed as his brother's deputy with plenipotentiary powers in western Mainland Greece, Church was displeased and resigned.
However, he remained in Greece, settling in Athens [Place Names], which is where he died.
Sir Richard Church (1784-1873)
05-11-2004