Constantine & Pandias Rallis
Konstantinos (Constantine Theodore Ralli) and Pantias Rallis (Pandias Theodore Ralli) were the sons of Theodore and Marouko Galati Ralli. Constantine was born in 1808 and Pandias was born March 21, 1812 on the island of Chios.
In January 1822, their father and two other prominent men of Chios – Pandeli Rodocanachi and Michael Schilizzi – were taken hostage by the Turks and transported to Constantinople. On May 18, 1822, all three were cruelly put to death, by order of the Grand Seignor, at Constantinople. Subsequently, their mother, Marouko Ralli, was able to barely escape with her children from the dreadful carnage on Chios and their family ended up living in Malta.
In Malta, they made the acquaintance of the American missionary Reverend Temple as did other refugees of Chios, who arranged for them to be sent to America. The Ralli brothers were 16 and 12 years old when they were brought to the United States and arrived in Boston on May 17, 1824 on board the brig Cypress, commanded by Captain Chaddock. They came to America along with Stephanos and Panteleon Galatti who were their first cousins as well as Nicholas Petrokokinos, and Alexander Paspatis.
The Ralli brothers began their studies at Monson Academy in Massachusetts, then Amherst College, before transferring to Yale University. Constantine graduated Yale in 1829; Pandias graduated Yale in 1830. Constantine headed back to Malta along with his cousin Stephano Galatti – who also graduated from Yale in 1829 – on August 22, 1829 on board the USS Ontario. After graduating Yale in 1830, Pandias returned to Malta along with his cousin Panteleon Galatti.
The two brothers eventually founded the world-famed Ralli Brothers, one of the largest trading companies in the world, with headquarters in London. The firm is still in existence today [1972]. In the year 1907, Ralli Brothers Company had 50 branches in the United States, alone, with many more in other parts of the world.
Pandias served as Consul in London for the King of Greece (The Morning Chronicle, London, January 27, 1936); was granted a patent (The Preston Chronicle, England, December 10, 1842); and became a lawyer. According to the Biographical Notices of Graduates of Yale College published in 1913, Constantine went on to study law in Paris, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law. He became a merchant and in 1853 was living in London.
Their mother passed away on August 15, 1861 in Constantinople. Constantine passed away in Chios either in 1881. Pandias passed away in Alexandria, Egypt in 1882.
Constantine Theodore Ralli
In addition to the Ralli Brothers trading company, Constantine Theodore Ralli was a partner of the law firm of Ralli and Mavrojani in London, Manchester, Calcutta, Corfu; as well as the law firm of Ralli, Vlasto, and Co. in Marseilles.
He married Mimika Lorenzo Psiachi and together they had 6 children – Maria (b. 1850), Angeliki (b. 1858), Caterina (b. 1859), Katia (b. 1862), Isabella (b. 1865) and Theodore (b. 1866). All six children were born in Odessa.
Pandias Theodore Ralli
Pandia blessed with an extraordinary intellect and iron will, grew the company based on the principles on whole-hearted focus to its interests, absolute integrity, and of entire abstention from speculation. He rapidly extended the business in several directions. He lived for a long time in London as well Alexandria, Egypt; and from 1855 to 1871 in Calcutta, India.
He married in September, 1846. They have had five daughters; one died in infancy. The oldest, Mary, twenty-five years old in 1872, is married to a merchant in Constantinople, and in 1872 bad two children, a son and daughter. Catharine, twenty-three years old in 1872, was then unmarried, but has since married. Sophia, twenty-one years old in 1872, is married to a merchant and compatriot in Paris, and had one daughter (in 1872). The fourth, nineteen years old, is unmarried, Natalli has been largely engaged in business, having in addition to his houses as heretofore named, one in Liverpool, and for sixteen years prior to 1871 resided in Bombay and Calcutta, India.
In October, 1871, Pandias returned to New York to establish a branch of his Ralli Brothers. In October, 1872, the climate not agreeing with him, and his health not good, he left in the Baltic for Liverpool; in consequence of his failing health be could not refer with any certainty to his future arrangements, but said he might retire from business altogether, and go to Greece, or the south of Europe, to pass quietly the remainder of his life. (Letter 21st October, 1872.)
In a letter written November 14, 1879 from Alexandria, Egypt, where Pandia then resided, stated that he had been very ill for the last two years with a complicated disease of liver, stomach, and spleen. He had been to try the waters of Royat, France, and had derived great benefit, and had, as he then hoped, secured another (short, perhaps,) lease of life. Sends best wishes to his Yale classmates, and says he shall be with them in spirit, and then says: "As to myself and my present position, I have nothing good and satisfactory to transmit. The bankruptcy of the Egyptian Government in 1876 ruined me completely, and since then I have been working hard to live from day to day, and latterly, with my broken health, it has gone very hard, and difficult to make a living." Of his five daughters, three are married, and he is the grandfather of four children. The fourth is unmarried, and living with him. He sends his best regards and wishes to surviving classmates.
The National Gazzette (Philadelphia), page 2 - May 25, 1824
Four promising Greek youths, natives of Scio (Chios), arrived at [Boston, May 17, 1824], from Malta, having come to this country with the hope of obtaining the advantages of education.
Their names are Constantine and Pandias Ralli, Nicolas Petrokokinos, and Alexander Paspati. The two first are brothers, whose father was a hostage from Scio at Constantinople, and was hung by order of the Grand Seignor. Nearly all his effects were destroyed at Scio by the Turks, and Mrs. Ralli, with her children, escaped with much difficulty, and is now at Malta. Nicholas has parents living at Malta, in reduced circumstances. His father was at Malta when Scio was overthrown; his mother, himself, and a younger brother were among those that escaped from the destruction. The father of Alexander died before the revolution. His mother and her family were taken at Scio by the Turks; one brother being of sufficient age to bear arms, was put to death; Alexander and his mother, one brother, and three sisters have been redeemed; and one brother remains in captivity.
Constantine Ralli and Nicolas Petrokokinos are 16 years of age, Pandias Ralli 13, and Alexander Paspati 12. They all read ancient as well as modern Greek, have more or less acquaintance with Italian, and while at Malta have made some progress in English, in which they converse intelligibly. They are all youths of good intellectual powers, amiable disposition, and correct deportment.
These young Sciots were sent from Malta by the American missionaries, and commended to the patronage of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. It is extensively known that there are already four Grecian youths residing at New Haven, under the patronage of the same Board, who do not expect to return till they have received a collegiate education, and it is much to be desired that those who have just now arrived should enjoy equal privileges.
Ralli Brothers Logo
The Ralli Brothers logo derives from the family's armourials – still to be seen on the porticos of their ruined palazzos on the island of Chios.
(Source: Christopher Aiden Long)
Bibliography
Blastos, Alexandros M. "A History of the Island of Chios, A.D. 70 - 1822." London: J. Davy and Sons, 1913, p. 151.
"Memorial of the Class of 1830, Yale College." Yale University, 1871, pp. 167 - 168.
Dowling, Theodore Edward. "Hellenism in England." London: The Faith Press, 1915, p. 54
