Diplomat. He was a Greek statesman who served as the Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire and was one of the most distinguished politicians and diplomats of Europe. After a long and distinguished career in European politics and diplomacy, he was elected as the first head of state of independent Greece 1827-1831. He is considered to be the founder of the modern Greek state, and the architect of Greek independence. He was also featured on the Greek 500 Drachma banknote.