Armen Garo

Born Garegin Pastermadjian in 1872, he became widely known by the name Armen Garo. He was an Armenian political activist, a leading member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and later a public figure in both the Ottoman and Armenian worlds.

He is especially remembered for his role in the 1896 Ottoman Bank takeover, an event that drew international attention to the condition of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. In the years that followed, he remained active in politics and military affairs, and he later served as a representative of Armenians in the Ottoman Parliament.

After the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia, he served as its ambassador to the United States. He died in 1923, leaving behind a legacy tied to Armenian nationalism, diplomacy, and the struggle for survival and statehood in the early 20th century.