Amalia Fleming
Encyclopedia
Amalia Koutsouri-Vourekas, Lady Fleming (1909 - 26 February 1986) was a Greek
doctor
, activist and politician
.
Fleming was born in Constantinople
(Istanbul) in 1909. She moved to Greece and, during the Axis occupation, took part in the National Resistance, for which she was jailed by the Italians.
In 1946, she received a scholarship
to study in London
. There, she met Sir Alexander Fleming
, the discoverer of penicillin
. After his wife died in 1949, she married him in 1953, becoming the second Lady Fleming. She was widowed less than two years later, in March 1955.
She returned to Greece in 1963 and was arrested by the Greek junta during the period of the dictatorship (1967-1974) for acts of sabotage. She was released from prison due to health problems in 1971 but was stripped of her Greek citizenship and exiled.
While in exile, she wrote a "A Piece of Truth," a personal account of her imprisonment as well as of the trial of Alexandros Panagoulis
.
Lady Fleming returned to Greece after the fall of the junta in 1974. She joined PASOK
and was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1977, 1981 and 1985. She also was active in several human rights organisations, notably Amnesty International
, Democratic Concern, and Human Rights Union.
Fleming initiated and funded the establishment of the Greek Foundation for Basic Biological Research "Alexander Fleming" (1965) which was later transformed to the Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", a governmental, non-profit institution which is actively involved in research areas covering immunology, molecular biology, genetics and molecular oncology.
Amalia Fleming died in 1986.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, activist and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Fleming was born in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(Istanbul) in 1909. She moved to Greece and, during the Axis occupation, took part in the National Resistance, for which she was jailed by the Italians.
In 1946, she received a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to study in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There, she met Sir Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming
Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. He wrote many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy...
, the discoverer of penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
. After his wife died in 1949, she married him in 1953, becoming the second Lady Fleming. She was widowed less than two years later, in March 1955.
She returned to Greece in 1963 and was arrested by the Greek junta during the period of the dictatorship (1967-1974) for acts of sabotage. She was released from prison due to health problems in 1971 but was stripped of her Greek citizenship and exiled.
While in exile, she wrote a "A Piece of Truth," a personal account of her imprisonment as well as of the trial of Alexandros Panagoulis
Alexandros Panagoulis
Alexandros Panagoulis was a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels in Greece. He became famous for his attempt to assassinate dictator Georgios Papadopoulos on 13 August 1968, but also for the torture that he was subjected to during his...
.
Lady Fleming returned to Greece after the fall of the junta in 1974. She joined PASOK
Panhellenic Socialist Movement
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement , known mostly by its acronym PASOK , is one of the two major political parties in Greece. Founded on 3 September 1974 by Andreas Papandreou, in 1981 PASOK became Greece's first social democratic party to win a majority in parliament.The party is a socialist party...
and was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1977, 1981 and 1985. She also was active in several human rights organisations, notably Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, Democratic Concern, and Human Rights Union.
Fleming initiated and funded the establishment of the Greek Foundation for Basic Biological Research "Alexander Fleming" (1965) which was later transformed to the Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", a governmental, non-profit institution which is actively involved in research areas covering immunology, molecular biology, genetics and molecular oncology.
Amalia Fleming died in 1986.