Alexandros Kontostavlos ( el, Αλέξανδρος Κοντόσταυλος; 1789, Chios – 1865, Athens) was a Greek banker, magnate and politician.

Biography

Konstavlos was born on the island of Chios in 1789 and descended from a noble family that traced its origins to the Byzantine Empire. After studies in Italy, he became a member of the Filiki Etaireia and during the latter part of the Greek Revolution served as an envoy to the United States for the purchase of warships. In 1828, Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias named him a member of the financial committee and sent him to Malta, where he purchased the mint that was used to produce the first modern Greek currency, the ''Phoenix (currency), Phoenix''. Under King Otto of Greece, he was elected several times to Parliament for Karystos, and served as Minister of Finance on 5 October 1855 – 2 July 1856. From December 1856 to July 1856, he was Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament. He died in Athens in 1865. His son, Alexandros A. Kontostavlos, was a diplomat and politician. 1789 births 1865 deaths Speakers of the Hellenic Parliament Greek bankers Businesspeople from Chios Finance ministers of Greece Kontostavlos family, Alexandros Members of the Filiki Eteria Greek people of the Greek War of Independence Politicians from Chios {{Greece-bio-stub