Ahmed Vefik Pasha

Ahmed Vefik Pasha (3 July 1823 2 April 1891) was an Ottoman statesman, diplomat, scholar, playwright, and translator during the Tanzimat and First Constitutional Era periods. He was commissioned with top-rank governmental duties, including presiding over the first Ottoman Parliament in 1877.

Biography Ahmed Vefik Pasha was born of Greek extraction, his ancestors having previously converted to Islam, like many other Greek Muslims particularly from Crete (Cretan Turks) and Macedonia in what is now northwestern Republic of Greece (see Vallahades).

Ahmed Vefik was twice made the Minister of Education of the Ottoman Empire. Though he was twice appointed Head of Government, he was appointed with the title "Prime Minister" instead of "Grand Vizier". He built a theatre in Bursa when he was made the governor of the city. In 1860, he became the Ottoman ambassador to France. He wrote the first Turkish dictionary and is considered to be among the first Pan-Turkists.