10 Facts About Jamil al-Ulshi

Jamil al-Ulshi was a Syrian politician, two-time prime minister of Syria and acting head of state during the French Mandate era.

Jamil al-Ulshi was born and raised in Damascus, and educated in the Ottoman Military Academy in Istanbul.

Jamil al-Ulshi defected from the Ottoman army and joined the Arab revolt under the leadership of Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca.

Jamil al-Ulshi rapidly gained a reputation for subservience to the French and nepotism, appointing several family members to high government posts.

Jamil al-Ulshi was forced to resign on 30 November 1920.

Jamil al-Ulshi remained a political outcast until 1928, when he was able to return to the cabinet as Minister of Finance when his longtime ally Taj al-Din al-Hasani became Prime minister; he held this post until August 1930, when he retired.

Jamil al-Ulshi came out of retirement in September 1941 to become an advisor to Hasani when the latter assumed the presidency.

Jamil al-Ulshi did so, giving several posts to nationalist politicians to appease the opposition.

Jamil al-Ulshi's tenure was marred by widespread public anger and rioting at high prices and taxes imposed to aid the unpopular French war effort in Europe.

Jamil al-Ulshi was again forced to resign, and disappeared from public life until his death eight years later.