Samuel Barff (27 August 1793 – 1 September 1880) was a banker and a supporter of

Greek independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...

Life

Barff was born about 1793, possibly in England. In 1816 he established himself at

Zante Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; ; ) or Zante (, , ; ; from the Venetian form, traditionally Latinized as Zacynthus) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands, with an area of , and a coastline in ...

, became an eminent merchant and banker, and terminated a long career in that island, 1 September 1880, at the age of eighty-seven.

Greek independence

Barff took an active part in the struggle for Greek War of Independence and was one of the last of the Englishmen connected with that movement. His reputation for honour, kindliness, and fairness, is expressed in a series of letters addressed to him from

Missolonghi Missolonghi or Mesolongi (, ) is a municipality of 32,048 people (according to the 2021 census) in western Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of Iera Polis Mesolongiou (). Missolon ...

Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...

early in 1824, which are preserved in Moore's 'Life of Lord Byron.' Barff was counted on to manage funds and provide support for Englishmen in Greece. Barff also served as a mediator between the government and Georgio Sisseni, the leader of the district around Gastruni. Barff was a friend of Lord Byron, offering his country house to Lord Byron in the event of the health of the latter requiring his removal from Missolonghi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barff, Samuel 1790s births 1880 deaths Philhellenes in the Greek War of Independence Bankers History of Zakynthos