Georgios Kaphantaris

Greek Venizelist politician, born in Anatoliki Frangista, Evritania prefecture in 1873. He served in Venizelos' cabinet as Agriculture Minister but disagreed with him as far as holding elections while the Greek Army was still involved in Asia Minor. In the elections that ensued, Venizelos' Liberal Party ("Κόμμα των Φιλελευθέρων") was ousted and Kaphantaris left the country for France and Italy. He returned after the Asia Minor disaster and was named Minister of Justice. In 1924, Prime Minister Venizelos resigned for health reasons and hand picks Kaphantaris as his successor. Kaphantaris shows moderation in the matter of the abolition of the Monarchy and is forced to resign barely a month later. He opposes the Pangalos' dictatorship and, after its overthrow, takes part in several more governments as Minister of Finance. He died in 1946.