Theodoros Pangalos was born on the island of Salamis on 11/23 January 1878. He came from a family with military and aristocratic roots. Pangalos graduated from the Hellenic Army Academy on 16/29 July 1900 as an Infantry Second Lieutenant and furthered his education in Paris, France. During the Balkan Wars of 1912–13, he served as a staff officer in the 6th Infantry Division and led forces into Sidirokastro during the second Balkan War. In 1916, he joined Eleftherios Venizelos' Provisional Government of National Defence against King Constantine I, focusing on recruiting the 9th Cretan Regiment. After King Constantine's abdication in June 1917, Pangalos was appointed chief of the personnel department in the Ministry of Military Affairs. He later served as Chief of Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division on the Macedonian front and became chief of staff of the General Headquarters until his dismissal in November 1920.Pangalos played a significant role in the September 1922 Revolution, which led to the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the Second Hellenic Republic. He was appointed Minister for Military Affairs and successfully reorganized the Greek army in response to the ongoing war with Turkey. His military preparations contributed to the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, although he opposed its terms and resigned due to his nationalist stance. Following a period of political instability, he held various ministerial positions and was elected to Parliament for Thessaloniki in December 1923. He served as Minister for Public Order and later returned to the position of Minister for Military Affairs..On 24 June 1925, Pangalos led a bloodless coup d'état, becoming Prime Minister after President Pavlos Kountouriotis was forced to appoint him. He abolished the republic, enacted repressive laws, and declared a state of emergency, consolidating his power as a 'constitutional dictator.' In April 1926, he rigged an election to become President of the Republic. His administration faced criticism for economic mismanagement and diplomatic failures, particularly regarding relations with Yugoslavia and Turkey. Discontent among military officers led to a counter-coup on 29 August 1926, resulting in Pangalos' deposition and imprisonment for two years..After his release, Pangalos withdrew from public life but remained involved in military circles. During the Axis occupation of Greece from 1941 to 1945, he was implicated in the establishment of the Security Battalions, which were formed to combat both the Communist-led National Liberation Front and the potential return of the monarchy. Although he did not hold an official position within the battalions, he ensured that his supporters were placed in key roles. Following the liberation of Greece, Pangalos was arrested and cleared of collaboration charges in September 1945. He attempted to re-enter politics but was unsuccessful in his 1950 parliamentary run. Pangalos died in Kifissia on 26 February 1952.