Alexander Mavrocordatos, a Greek statesman, born in Constantinople in February, 1791, died in Aegina, Aug. 18, 1865. He made himself an accomplished linguist, and in 1817 was secretary of his uncle Caradja, hospodar of Wallachia. Subsequently he resided for some time in Switzerland and Italy. In 1821, on the outbreak of the Greek revolution, he sailed with a number of French and Italian volunteers to the Peloponnesus, and was sent to organize the insurrection in Aetolia and Acar-mania. At the close of the year he was elected president of the national assembly at Epidau-rus, which framed the provisional constitution and promulgated the declaration of independence (January, 1822). He was made soon after proedros or president of the executive committee. In the following years, as commander-in-chief, he distinguished himself in the defence of Missolonghi, Navarino, and Sphac-teria. A supporter of liberal tendencies, he violently opposed the Russian leanings of both John and Augustine Capo d'Istria. In 1833-4 he was in the cabinet of King Otho, and afterward was ambassador at Munich, Berlin, and London, whence he was recalled in July, 1841, to take the presidency of the ministry. In 1843 he was a special ambassador to the Porte, and for a short time in 1844 was again at the head of the ministry.

In 1850-'54 he was ambassador at Paris, and on his return was once more placed at the head of the cabinet, from which in 1856 he resigned and retired to private life.