Roufos was born in Patras in 1795, a scion of the wealthy Roufos-Kanakaris family.

He was the son of Athanasios Kanakaris who fought during the Greek War of Independence.

[citation needed] In 1855, Roufos was elected Mayor of Patras, a post he held for three years.

[citation needed] When King Otto was exiled in 1862 as a result of a revolution, Roufos became one of three viceroys - along with Konstantinos Kanaris and Dimitrios Voulgaris - that held power from 10 October 1862 until 19 October 1863.

[2] Roufos served twice as Prime Minister of Greece, with his first term interrupted for a few days in June 1863.