Mekertich Portukalian

Mekertich Portukalian

Mekertich Portukalian was an Armenian teacher,who founded the Armenakan party in Van, in 1885. He initially taught at Tokat and after a trip to Western Anatolia and the Balkans opened a school in Van in 1878. The school soon fell apart from conflict among members, and closed before the end of the year. He opened another school in 1881. This school was closed by Ottoman authorities in 1885. He was then exiled to Marseilles.