15 Facts About Saad Zaghloul

Saad Zaghloul Pasha was an Egyptian revolutionary and statesman.

Saad Zaghloul was the leader of Egypt's nationalist Wafd Party.

Saad Zaghloul led a civil disobedience campaign with the goal of achieving independence for Egypt from British rule.

Saad Zaghloul played a key role in the Egyptian Revolution of 1919, as well as played a role in prompting the British Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence in 1922.

Saad Zaghloul served as Prime Minister of Egypt from 26 January 1924 to 24 November 1924.

Saad Zaghloul became close to Princess Nazli Fazl, and his contacts with the Egyptian upper class led to his marriage to the daughter of the Egyptian prime minister Mustafa Fahmi Pasha, whose friendship with Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer, then the effective British ruler of Egypt, accounts in part for the eventual acceptability of Zaghloul to the British occupation.

In succession, Saad Zaghloul was appointed judge, minister of education, minister of justice ; and in 1913 he became vice-president of the Legislative Assembly.

Saad Zaghloul became increasingly active in nationalist movements, and in 1919 he led an official Egyptian delegation to the Paris Peace Conference demanding that the United Kingdom formally recognize the independence and unity of Egypt and Sudan.

Saad Zaghloul's absence caused disturbances in Egypt, ultimately leading to the Egyptian Revolution of 1919.

Saad Zaghloul began to formulate a strong base amid his return which led to the elections of 12 January 1924 giving the Wafd Party an overwhelming majority, and two weeks later, led to Zaghloul forming the first Wafdist government.

Saad Zaghloul's opponents were equally discredited as compromisers in the eyes of the masses.

Saad Zaghloul's brother, Ahmad Fathy Zaghlul was a lawyer and politician.

Saad Zaghloul had several administrative and government posts, and at one point was Deputy Minister of Justice.

Saad Zaghloul is buried with his wife in their mausoleum Beit El-Umma in Cairo.

Saad Zaghloul died in Cairo on 23 August 1927, and was buried in the mausoleum of Saad, known as the House of the Nation, which was built in 1931.