Nikolaos Nikiforakis

From Phantis
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Nikolaos Nikiforakis (Greek: Νικολαος Νικηφορακης, Russian: Nikolai Egorovich Nikiforaki): Governor General of Stavropol Province; Russian Major-General.

Nikolaos Nikiforakis was born in 1838, in Ekaterinoslavskaya, Russia, the son of George Nikiforakis. Like most Greeks, he joined the army and took part in the Caucasian war. After the war, he continued his army career and progressed the military ranks to became Major-General. In 1887, age 49, he settled with his family in Stavropol. That year, he became the Governor-General of the Stavropol Province, a position he held for 17 years.

He died on February 15 1904.

Nikiforakis was a good communicator and administrator. Like his predecessor, George Vlastos, he was broadminded and interested in agriculture. He was involved in the development of the railway transport and established the telephone network North of Caucasus. He improved education (initiated the construction of the Olgian College for Women, The Belinski Vocational School, The School of Education, The A.S. Pushkin Public House, etc) and medicine and raised funds for the construction of the psychiatric hospital which opened in 1907 - 3 years after his death.

Under his Governorship, the Stavropol Province prospered. For his services to Russia, he was awarded "The Diamond Ring" and the military rank of Lieutenant-General by Tsar Nikolai II.