Konstantinos Mousouros

Kostaki Musurus
Personal details
Born18 February 1807
Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Died10 February 1891
Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
NationalityOttoman
SpousePrincess Anne Vogoridaina
RelationsGrégoire Bibesco-Bassaraba (son in law)
ChildrenStephanos Mousouros
Rakoul Mousourus Bibesco-Bassaraba
Residence(s)Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
ProfessionAmbassador

Konstantinos Mousouros (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Μουσούρος, Turkish: Kostaki Musurus Paşa; 1807–1891), also known as Kostaki Musurus Pasha, was an Ottoman Greek diplomatic official of the Ottoman Empire who served as ambassador to Greece, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Biography

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He was born in 1807 in Constantinople (Istanbul) to a distinguished Phanariote family. His brother, Pavlos Mousouros, also became a diplomat. Mousouros became the first ambassador of the Ottoman Empire to the newly independent Kingdom of Greece in 1840, a position he kept until 1848. In 1847–48 he was a central figure in the events known as Mousourika (Μουσουρικά), which led to his temporary recall and the breakdown of relations between the two states. On his return to Athens he survived an assassination attempt, leading to his transfer to Vienna. In 1850 he took up the post of Ottoman ambassador to the Great Britain and Ireland, which he kept for 35 consecutive years, until his retirement in 1885. During the same period, he also served as ambassador to the Netherlands (1861–77) and Belgium (1861–75). In 1876–78, he was ex officio a member of the short-lived Senate of the Ottoman Empire.

Well educated, in 1883 Mousouros translated Dante's Divine Comedy into ancient Greek and Turkish.

He was married and had a son, Stephanos Mousouros, who later became Prince of Samos and Ambassador to the United Kingdom. There was also a daughter married in the United Kingdom to Colonel Heriot.[1]

Kostaki Musurus Pasha wearing the diplomatic uniform.

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36981. London. 19 January 1903. p. 9.
  2. ^ The London Gazette: The Appointed Organ for All Announcements of the Executive. 1863,5/8