Eleftherios Kyriakou Venizelos was born on 23 August 1864 in Mournies, near Chania, in Ottoman Crete. His father, Kyriakos Venizelos, was a merchant and revolutionary. The family fled to Kythira during the Cretan revolution of 1866 and later moved to Syros, where they remained until 1872. Venizelos completed his secondary education in Ermoupolis and enrolled at the University of Athens, graduating with a law degree in 1881. He returned to Crete in 1886 to work as a lawyer.Venizelos entered politics in 1889 as a member of the liberal party in Crete. He gained prominence during the Cretan uprisings against Ottoman rule, particularly in the 1897 Cretan revolution, where he led rebel forces at Akrotiri. His actions during this period established him as a key figure in the movement for Cretan autonomy and eventual union with Greece. Following the establishment of the autonomous Cretan State in 1898, Venizelos served as minister of Justice from 1899 to 1901, advocating for a constitution that represented all Cretans.In 1909, Venizelos was invited to Athens to resolve a political deadlock and became Prime Minister. He initiated significant constitutional and economic reforms, modernizing Greek society and reorganizing the military. His diplomatic efforts led to Greece's entry into the Balkan League, resulting in territorial gains during the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, including Macedonia and Epirus.During World War I, Venizelos aligned Greece with the Allies, which led to a conflict with King Constantine I, resulting in the National Schism. After the war, he secured territorial concessions for Greece through the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920. However, he was defeated in the 1920 elections, leading to his self-imposed exile. He later represented Greece in negotiations that resulted in the Treaty of Lausanne, which included a population exchange between Greece and Turkey.Venizelos returned to power in 1928, focusing on foreign relations and reconciliation with Turkey. His government faced challenges due to the Great Depression and internal political strife. In 1932, he was defeated by the People's Party and faced an assassination attempt in 1933. Following a failed coup attempt by his supporters, he left Greece again. Venizelos died on 18 March 1936 in Paris and was buried in Chania, Crete. His legacy includes the establishment of the Liberal Party and significant contributions to the modernization of Greece, earning him the title 'The Maker of Modern Greece.'

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Eleftherios Venizelos