Sofoklis Dousmanis

Sophocles (or Sofoklis) Dousmanis (Greek: Σοφοκλής Δούσμανης) was born in Corfu in 1868, the descendant of a big noble family of Corfu. During the Balkan Wars he commanded the flagship of the Hellenic Navy, the Greek cruiser Georgios Averof (Γεώργιος Αβέρωφ).

He graduated from the Hellenic Naval Academy in 1888. He was a very capable officer with royalist convictions. Ranked Commander (αντιπλοίαρχος) he served as 'αρχιεπιστολεύς' for the Naval Exercises Squadron (μοίρα γυμνασίων) (1910), Director of the Administrative Section of the Royal Navy General Staff (Γενικόν Επιτελείον Ναυτικού) (1912) and captain of the battleship 'George Averof' as well as 'αρχιεπιστολεύς' for the Aegean Fleet during the Balkan Wars.

He was promoted to Rear-Admiral(υποναύαρχος) in 1914 in recognition of his services and was appointed Governor of the Warships Squadron. He served as the Head of the Royal Navy General Staff (Γενικόν Επιτελείον Ναυτικού) from June 1915 to 1917. However, when Eleftherios Venizelos came to power during the period 1917-1920 he was made redundant and was exiled in Santorini. After the return of King Constantine I of Greece he was recalled in active service and served as Head of Aegean Fleet (January - April 1921) and Head of the Royal Navy General Staff (Γενικόν Επιτελείον Ναυτικού) again (November 1921-October 1922). He retired with the rank of Vice-Admiral (αντιναύαρχος) in January 1923.

When the Plastiras movement erupted in March 1935, Dousmanis was appointed by the government of Panagis Tsaldaris Minister for Naval Affairs (March - October 1935) and was promoted to Admiral (ναύαρχος). During the same period (March 1935 - January 1936) he was Chairman of the 'Committee of Collection in favour of the National Fleet', whose aim was to collect money for the purchase of a big naval ship and the repair of damaged fleet ships resulting from the repression of the Plastiras movement. Dousmanis received a large number of both Greek and foreign decorations. He died in Athens on 6 January 1952. He was maried to Maria Vouros; they had no children.

In 1939 Sophocles Dousmanis wrote a book about his memoirs as Captain of the 'George Averof' where he describes his role in the Naval Battle of Elli (3 December 1912) and the Naval Battle of Lemnos (3 January 1913).