Stamatios Kleanthis

Stamatios Kleanthis (also Cleanthes, Greek Σταμάτιος Κλεάνθης, * 1802 in Velvendo, † 1862 in Athens ) was a Greek architect.

Kleanthis was born in the village Velvendo in today's regional district Kozani in the city was still under Turkish domination region of Macedonia. His impoverished parents sent him to a free visit to a Greek school to Bucharest. After graduating, he returned to Velvendo. In 1821 he took part in the uprising against the Ottoman Empire of the Greeks. Kleanthis joined the unit to General Alexander Ypsilanti. At the battle of Dragatsani Kleanthis was taken prisoner, but managed to escape. He went to Vienna and then to Leipzig where he studied architecture. Later he continued his studies in Berlin as a student of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, where he remained until 1828. After graduating, he went together with his fellow students Eduard Schaubert to Athens to work for the Greek government under President Kapodistrias. 1832 designed and Kleanthis Schaubert a new map for Athens, which provided wide avenues, gardens and large public buildings. This design was simplified by Leo von Klenze because he was judged to be too costly. After disagreements with the government finally Kleanthis gave up his post.

Kleanthis designed numerous important buildings in Athens, including the Villa of Sophie de Marbois -Lebrun, Duchess of Plaisance, is housed in what is now the Byzantine Museum of Athens.

Kleanthis came as an architect and as an operator of a marble quarry on the island of Paros at large fortune. Marble from his quarry was awarded at the London Great Exhibition with the gold medal. In 1862 he suffered an accident in his quarry. He was brought to Athens, where he eventually died.