Revolutionary Dimitar Gorov

Dimitar Ivanov Gorov, a Bulgarian merchant and participant in the Bulgarian revolutionary movement, was born on 28 June 1840 in Peshtera. In 1866 he moved to Brăila, Romania, and later settled in Giurgiu, where through work, diligence and thrift he managed to establish a candle and soap factory.

Gorov married Angel Kanchev's sister, Ivanka Kancheva, and used his material success to support Bulgaria's freedom. He established close relationships with revolutionaries including Lyuben Karavelov, Vasil Levski, Angel Kanchev, Stefan Stambolov and Hristo Botev. In 1868, Gorov financed the detachment of Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha, providing funds and delivering farewell letters from Botev to his family.

Dimitar Gorov also supported the publication of poetry by Botyov and Stambolov and financed Hristo Botev's purchase of his printing press. In 1875 he rented a house for the Giurgiu Revolutionary Committee and became known as a generous supporter of the insurgents.

He participated in various revolutionary and military activities, including accompanying Botev's detachment from Giurgiu to Bechet and sending a telegram to European newspapers in which Botev explained the purpose of the detachment's crossing into Bulgaria. He was arrested after sending the telegram and confined in Bucharest's Văcărești prison.

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, Gorov sold his property and joined the Russian army as an interpreter. After Bulgaria's Liberation he settled in Tryavna, where he entered state service as a district chief, but became seriously ill and died in poverty on 7 December 1881. His remains were transferred and buried in Peshtera, and his daughter, buried beside him, died two years after him. All Gorov's archives and notes were taken by Zahari Stoyanov and Stefan Stambolov, who unsuccessfully sought a pension for his widow, Tsvetana.