Ali Bey

Ali Bey, of Egypt, was a Caucasian slave, born in 1728, who rose to be chief of the Mamelukes in 1763, gained followers, slaughtered the other beys in 1766, and was proclaimed sultan in 1768. He made himself independent of the Porte, and had conquered Syria and part of Arabia, when one of his sons-in-law deserted him, and raised an army against him in Egypt. In April 1773 he was defeated in battle, and a few days after died of his wounds or of poison.