John D. Chandris
Encyclopedia
John D. Chandris was a Greek
shipping magnate.
Chandris was born in Chios
, then part of the Ottoman Empire
. In 1915, after years of experience in the shipping industry, he bought his first ship, the S/S Dimitrios. By World War I
, Chandris' fleet was made up of four ships, including steamships. In 1922, he expanded into the passenger shipping market.
Following the outbreak of World War II
, Chandris followed the exodus of shipowners from Greece. He moved to London
. Chandris ran the cruise lines until he retired in 1939. He died in 1942 in London after shooting himself in the chest, at the age 52.
His two sons, Anthony and Dimitri, would later rebuild the company, making it the largest Greek passenger shipping firm. A partnership called Chandris-Fantasy Cruises started in the early 1980s and later was divided into two separate arms of the Chandris Group, Fantasy-Cruises and Celebrity cruises.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
shipping magnate.
Chandris was born in Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, then part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. In 1915, after years of experience in the shipping industry, he bought his first ship, the S/S Dimitrios. By World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Chandris' fleet was made up of four ships, including steamships. In 1922, he expanded into the passenger shipping market.
Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Chandris followed the exodus of shipowners from Greece. He moved to 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...
. Chandris ran the cruise lines until he retired in 1939. He died in 1942 in London after shooting himself in the chest, at the age 52.
His two sons, Anthony and Dimitri, would later rebuild the company, making it the largest Greek passenger shipping firm. A partnership called Chandris-Fantasy Cruises started in the early 1980s and later was divided into two separate arms of the Chandris Group, Fantasy-Cruises and Celebrity cruises.