Themistocles

And so, in the first place, whereas the Athenians were wont to divide up among themselves the revenue coming from the silver mines at Laureium, he, and he alone, dared to come before the people with a motion that this division be given up, and that with these moneys triremes be constructed for the war against Aegina.[*]( 484-483 B.C.) This was the fiercest war then troubling Hellas, and the islanders controlled the sea, owing to the number of their ships.