Themistocles

Themistocles (?524 BC-?460 BC^[1]) was an Ancient Greek Athenian^[1] politician and general. He fought against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon as a young man^[source?]. He later persuaded Athens to build a navy^[2] which he commanded in the engagement against the Persians at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.^[1]

Themistocles in an 1875 illustration

After the war he became unpopular and had to leave. He went to work for the Persian Empire.