محمد علي باشا

Muhammad Ali Pasha (d. 1265 AH / 1849 CE), founder of the Alawite ruling family in Egypt. Al-Zirikli counts him among the great reformers. ²

Al-Zirikli says that he was of Albanian origin, Arabized, born in Kavala in Rumelia, and took up trade and grew wealthy. He witnessed the battle of Abu Qir in 1214 AH, gathered around him a large number of Albanians whom he relied upon, and courted the Mamluks until they supported him. He became governor of Egypt in 1220 AH. ²

He built ships on the Nile, brought most of eastern Sudan under Egypt, and built an arsenal in Alexandria. He fought the Saudis and expelled them from the Hijaz, and seized Syria, which was later taken from him. The Ottoman state made Egypt and Sudan a khedivate for his heirs to inherit, in 1256 AH. ²

Schools and factories multiplied in his time, and he sent missions to acquire learning in Europe. He withdrew from affairs in favour of his son Ibrahim Pasha in 1265 AH and died in Alexandria. ²

His date of birth is confused in the printed text, and the commonly given date is 1769 CE. ²