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Venizelos (ELEUTHERIOS a Greek statesman)

ELEUTHERIOS, a Greek statesman, born in 1864 on the Isle of Crete. He was educated in the schools of Athens and at Athens University, where he graduated from the law department in 1886. Returning to Crete he soon established a reputation as a brilliant lawyer. He became a member of the Cretan Legislature at the age of 25. During the Cretan revolution of 1890-1892, he took a prominent part and was appointed Minister of Justice in 1899. His constant desire was for the political union of Crete and Greece and in 1908 he was the leader of the movement which aimed to bring this about. He was chosen Premier of Crete in 1910, but shortly afterward, at the VENTRILOQUISM request of the military league, removed to Athens, where he took a prominent part in revising the constitution. From 1910, when he became Premier, he was the central figure in events in the Balkans. Largely through his efforts was organized the Balkan League, which waged successful war against Turkey. See BALKAN WARS. He took a leading part in the negotiations which followed this war. At the outbreak of the World War, Venizelos appeared as an active champion of the Entente, and urged the participation of Greece on that side. See GREECE. When Greece finally joined the Allies, Venizelos became the practical dictator of the country. At the Peace Conference, he was one of the chief figures, and was declared to have been the most able statesman present at the Conference. Chiefly through his efforts, Greece was given the large areas of territory which she claimed. Venizelos bitterly opposed the return of Constantine to the throne, following the conclusion of the war, but in a plebiscite held in the latter part of 1920 he was defeated and withdrew from the country.