Venjamin Karres (of Lesvos)
One of the most important figures to whom the title “Teacher of the Nation” is given is Venjamin Karres. He was a native of Megalochori of Lesvos (1762) and he studied at Kydonies and in Europe.
He studied Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, and Philosophy and he served at the Evaggeliki School of Smyrna, which is the second most important centre of Greek studies during the Ottoman Period. The European enlightenment movement has inspired Venjamin and he introduced modern Philosophy and Physical Sciences to Greece.
He was involved with the Friendly Society and when the struggle for independence began he took part in the assemblies of Epidavros and Astros