Aristotle Onassis

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Aristotle Socrates Onassis (Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης in Greek lettering) (January 15, 1906 – March 15, 1975) was the most famous Greek shipping magnate of the 20th century.

Related Topics:
January 15 - 1906 - March 15 - 1975 - Greek - 20th century

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Onassis was born in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (now Izmir, Turkey) to a poor Greek family. At the time of his birth, Smyrna had a significant Greek population. After being briefly occupied by Greece (1919 – 1922) in the aftermath of the allied victory in World War I, the city was recaptured by Turkey; the Onassis family holdings were lost, causing them to move to Greece as refugees. Aristotle Onassis revived the family's tobacco business in Argentina in the early 1920s. In 1925 he received Argentinian and Greek citizenships. Onassis purchased his first ships in the early 1930s. By 1932, he had become a world-class businessman, owning commercial ships, tankers and whalers. He founded Olympic Airways (today Olympic Airlines), the Greek national carrier, in 1957. In 1954, the FBI investigated Onassis for fraud against the U.S. government. He was charged with violating the citizenship provision of the shipping laws which requires that all ships displaying the US flag be owned by US citizens. Onassis pled guilty and paid $7 million.

Related Topics:
Ottoman Empire - Izmir - Turkey - Greek - World War I - Refugee - Argentina - 1920s - 1925 - 1930s - 1932 - Olympic Airlines - 1957 - FBI - U.S. government

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Onassis married Athina Mary Livanos, daughter of shipping magnate Stavros Livanos, on December 28, 1946; their son, Alexander (April 30, 1948 – January 23, 1973), and daughter Christina Onassis, were both born in New York City. After their divorce, Athina married her late sister's widower—and Onassis's arch shipping rival—Stavros Niarchos.

Related Topics:
Athina Mary Livanos - Stavros Livanos - December 28 - 1946 - April 30 - 1948 - January 23 - 1973 - Christina Onassis - New York City - Stavros Niarchos

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Despite the fact they were both married, Onassis and opera diva Maria Callas embarked on a notorious affair. According to Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis by Nicholas Gage, Callas gave birth to their child, a boy, who died hours later on March 30, 1960. Onassis ended his relationship with Callas to marry Jackie Kennedy, the widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, on October 20, 1968.

Related Topics:
Opera - Maria Callas - March 30 - 1960 - Jackie Kennedy - U.S. President - John F. Kennedy - October 20 - 1968

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Onassis died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, of bronchial pneumonia at the age of 69. Alexander had earlier died in an airplane crash. Christina inherited his fortune, which has since passed to her only child, Athina Roussel.

Related Topics:
Neuilly-sur-Seine - France - Pneumonia - Athina Roussel

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