Dimitrios Panourgias

Dimitrios Panourgias (Greek: Δημήτριος Πανουργιάς) (1754-1834) was a Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence. He was born Dimitrios Xiros (Greek: Δημήτριος Ξηρός) in the village of Dremissa, Phocis in 1754.
His parents originated from the village Aghios Georgios in Phocis, although he was born in Dremissa. His family name was Xiros (Ξηρός), but the priest who baptised him thought he was a girl and named him Panorea (Πανωραία), meaning very beautiful, and by that name he was by then being called. 
Panourgias entered the Armatoliki of Adroutsos Veroussis in 1790 and for a short time became commander of the Salona armatolic district with the support of Ali Pasha, but quickly abandoned his position and turned himself into a Klepht. In 1816, however, he rejoined Ali Pasha and was once more appointed as Armatolos in the Salona district. It was there where he became member of Filiki Eteria.
On March 24, 1821 he started the Revolution in Salona and later collaborated with Athanasios Diakos and Dyovouniotis in order to hult Omer Vryoni from advancing further into Roumeli. Panourgias with his band was to defend the hills of Chalkomata, near Thermopylae, but was seriously wounded during the fights and had to withdraw, allowing Omer Vryoni to take over Attica.
On August 25, 1821, near Thermopylae, Panourgias with a force of 800 men managed to destroy an Ottoman relief army of 4,000 men on its way to join the forces of Omer Vryoni in Attica. 
800 Turks were killed and 220 captured. Greek trophies included 18 flags, 2 cannons, and 800 horses. The Turks retreated to Lamia, to the north of Thermopylae. This victory prevented the Ottoman army in Attica and Evia to enter the Peloponnese and relieve the Ottoman garrisons besieged by the Greeks.
Panourgias participated in January, 1822 to the 1st National Assembly at Epidauros as Salona representative and was the most important negotiator during the surrender of Acrocorinth to the Greek forces in 1822. He retired from military operations some months later, after he handed the leadership of his militia band to his son, Nakos Panourgia. He died in 1834.