Georgios Papandreou was born Georgios Stavropoulos on 13 February 1888 in Kalentzi, Achaea, Greece. He was the son of Father Andreas Stavropoulos, an Orthodox archpriest. His surname is derived from his father's name and the Greek word for priest, 'papas.' Papandreou studied law in Athens and political science in Berlin, where he was influenced by German social democracy. He opposed the monarchy and supported social policies while being staunchly anti-communist. His political career began as a supporter of Eleftherios Venizelos, who appointed him governor of Chios after the Balkan Wars. He experienced personal loss when his brother Nikos was killed in battle. Papandreou married twice, first to Sofia Mineyko, with whom he had a son, Andreas, and later to actress Cybele Andrianou, with whom he had another son, George.During the First World War, Papandreou supported Venizelos against King Konstantínos I. He accompanied Venizelos to Crete and mobilized support for the pro-Allied government in Thessaloniki. In the 1920 elections, he ran unsuccessfully as an independent liberal. He defended Alexandros Papanastasiou in a trial against the king and was imprisoned by the royalist regime. He served as interior minister in 1923 and was elected to parliament in December 1923 as a member of the Venizelist Liberal Party. He held various ministerial positions, including finance, education, and transport, and implemented significant educational reforms. He was imprisoned again during the dictatorship of Pangalos and later exiled after a royalist coup in 1935.Following the Axis occupation of Greece in World War II, Papandreou was imprisoned by Italian authorities but later fled to join the government-in-exile in Egypt. He was appointed prime minister by King Geórgios II and oversaw the Lebanon conference and the Caserta Agreement in 1944, aimed at establishing a national unity government. After the Axis powers withdrew, he entered Athens as prime minister of the Greek government of national unity in October 1944. He attempted to mediate between the EAM and non-EAM forces but resigned in 1945 after the Dekemvriana events. He continued to hold various ministerial roles until 1952, including deputy prime minister.In 1961, Papandreou founded the Centre Union Party, which united liberal Venizelists, social democrats, and dissatisfied conservatives. His party won the elections in 1963 and 1964, implementing progressive policies that faced opposition from conservative factions. His son, Andreas, played a significant role in the party and advocated for more progressive policies. Papandreou opposed the Zürich and London Agreement regarding Cyprus and sent a Greek army division to the island amid ethnic tensions. Tensions with King Constantine II escalated, leading to a split in the Centre Union and Papandreou's dismissal in July 1965. Following the military coup in April 1967, he was arrested and died under house arrest on 1 November 1968. His funeral prompted a large anti-dictatorship demonstration, and he is buried in the First Cemetery of Athens alongside his son Andreas.Papandreou was recognized as a skilled orator and a proponent of democracy. His tenure saw significant social reforms, including improvements in health and education, and a rise in household income. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Belgrade in 1965. His legacy continues through his family, with his son Andreas and grandson George also entering politics.