11 Facts About Riyad Pasha

Riyad Pasha served as Prime Minister of Egypt three times during his career.

Ismail, recognizing in this obscure individual a capacity for hard work and a strong will, made him one of his ministers, to find, to his chagrin, that Riyad Pasha was an honest man possessed of a remarkable independence of character.

When Ismail's financial straits compelled him to agree to a commission of inquiry, Riyad Pasha was the only Egyptian of known honesty sufficiently intelligent and patriotic to be named as a vice-president of the commission.

Riyad Pasha filled this office with distinction, but not to the liking of Ismail.

When Ismail dismissed the cabinet and attempted to resume autocratic rule, Riyad Pasha fled the country.

Riyad Pasha's administration, marked by much ability, lasted only two years, and was overthrown by the agitation which had Urabi Pasha as its figurehead.

Riyad Pasha treated the beginnings of this movement as of no consequence.

Riyad Pasha took no further part in public affairs until 1888, when, on the dismissal of Nubar Pasha, he was summoned to form a government.

Riyad Pasha now understood that the only policy possible for an Egyptian statesman was to work in harmony with the British agent, Sir Evelyn Baring.

The appointment of an Anglo-Indian official as judicial adviser to the khedive was opposed by Riyad Pasha, who resigned in May 1891.

Riyad Pasha's standpoint was that of the benevolent autocrat; he believed that the Egyptians were not fitted for self-government and must be treated like children, protected from ill-treatment by others and prevented from injuring themselves.