George Jarvis (1797–1828) was the first AmericanPhilhellene, who took part in theGreek Revolution.
George Jarvis, born inAltona (today a western borough ofHamburg) was the son of Benjamin Jarvis, an American diplomat on assignment inEurope. While Jarvis was a student in a German university, he was fired by enthusiasm for theGreek Revolution. Jarvis sailed for Greece withFrank Abney Hastings, a Royal Navy officer, arriving on the island ofHydra on April 3.
Jarvis serving as an officer in the Greek Navy from 1822 to 1824 withManolis Tobazis, a captain and shipowner from Hydra.[1]
Jarvis was a true philhellene who endangered his life to come to the aid of Greece and her people. Upon his arrival in Greece in 1822 he put the "fustanella" (uniform of the Greek fighter), he taught himself to read and write Greek and thereafter Greek fighters call him Captain "George Zervas or Zervos, the American".[2]
AfterLord Byron's arrival in Greece, Jarvis left Hydra for the town ofMissolonghi, in western Central Greece, and served as Lord Byron's adjutant until his death on April 18, 1824. Under guidance of Greek engineer M. Kokkinis he also helped fortify both Missolonghi and the island ofAitoliko. In August 1824 underAlexandros Mavrokordatos's leadership, he took part in the expedition to the northern Turkish strongholds of Kravassaras (Amfilochia) andMakrynoros, in the province ofEpirus.[1]
During the invasion of theMorea byIbrahim Pasha of Egypt, he assumed the expenses for the 45 soldiers sent toMethoni. From 1827 until his death on August 11, 1828, Jarvis along withSamuel Gridley Howe andJonathan Peckham Miller, as members of the philhellenic committee of America, continued to contribute by distributing much needed medication, clothing and food to Greek population who had suffered during this time. George Jarvis died on August 11, 1828, most probably fromtetanus ortyphus. He was buried within the premises of Agios Ioannis church in the city ofArgos, with the rank of lieutenant general.[3]
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