Miaoulis was born on the island of Hydra to an Arvanite[2] family of Euboean origin, namely from the town of Fylla.

As early as 1822 Miaoulis was appointed navarch, (Greek: Ναύαρχος) or admiral, of the swarm of small vessels which formed the insurgent fleet.

[1]In 1824, after the conquest of Psara by the Turks, he commanded the Greek forces which prevented the further progress of the Sultan's fleet, though at the cost of the loss of many fire ships and men.

He continued to be the naval chief of the Greeks until the former Royal Navy officer Thomas Cochrane entered their service in 1827.

[citation needed] He was one of the deputation sent to invite King Otto to accept the crown of Greece, and was made rear-admiral and then vice-admiral by him.

[citation needed] A big festival, called Miaoulute, takes place in Hydra every year the weekend closest to 21 June, to honor Admiral Miaoulis, a most important man of the Greek Revolution in 1821.