He studied science and taught mathematics and natural history at the Princely Academy of Bucharest, then run by Constantinos Vardalachos.

When the Revolution broke out, Kanellos abandoned teaching and fought in the army of Alexander Ypsilantis near Danube.

His contribution to the formation of the island's administrative organization, which also aimed at normalizing relations between the rival groups of the Cretan chieftains, was valuable.

One of the main contributors of the Hermes o Logios (Vienna 1811-1821) in which he published with Athanasios Bogoridis issues in particular on natural sciences.

Finally, he was also the author and composer of Greek patriotic poems like "Paidiá ton Ellínon ti kartereíte" (Παιδιά των Ελλήνων τι καρτερείτε) and "Ta Palikária ta kalá den kléptoun, den arpázoun" (Τα παληκάρια τα καλά δεν κλέπτουν, δεν αρπάζουν).