Abbas Pasha

Abbas Pasha, viceroy of Egypt, was grandson of the famous Mehemet Ali. Born in 1813, he was early initiated into public life, and in 1841 he took an active part in his grandfather's Syrian war. The death of his uncle, Ibrahim Pasha, in 1848, called him to the viceregal throne at Cairo. During his brief reign he did much to undo the progress that had been made under Mehemet Ali, and proved himself bigoted, indolent, and sensual, a bitter enemy to foreigners and their civilisation. At the outbreak of the Crimean war he placed a force of 15,000 men and his fleet at the disposal of the Sultan. He was found dead—probably murdered—13th July 1854.