Dimitrios Papanikolis (1790–1855) was a famous naval hero and fireship captain during the Greek War of Independence. Born on Psara into a seafaring family, he joined the navy at a young age, initially working as a sailor and later fighting against Barbary and Algerian pirates. When the Greek War of Independence broke out, he enlisted on the ship of Apostolis Apostolis and soon found himself at the forefront of the naval battles, achieving notable victories. His most famous naval success was the burning of the 88-gun Turkish warship during the Battle of Eresos in Lesvos in May 1821. From October 1826, Papanikolis participated in the revolutionary operations with his own ship, equipped with cannons, and in January 1829, he returned to his commercial activities.
In 1883, after King Otto came to power, his ship was purchased by the independent Greek state, and Papanikolis was appointed captain in the Greek navy. In 1843, he was unanimously elected representative of Psara. In 1846, he became President of the Naval Court, a position he held until his death in 1855 in Piraeus. His burial took place in Athens with royal honours.
In his honour, a corvette of the Greek Navy, lent by the British Admiralty during World War II, was named after him. The ship was returned to the British Navy in 1959. Several submarines of the Greek Navy have been named Papanikolis to honour this heroic figure.
