Hussein Refki Pasha

Hussein Refki Pasha (; 1876–1950) was an Egyptian military general and politician who served as Egypt's Minister of War and Marine.

Early life and career

Hussein Refki ibn Ahmed Hafez ibn Mohammed Hafez was born in Cairo, Egypt, to an aristocratic Turco-Egyptian family of statesmen and military officers.

Later career and political roles

Refki transferred to the Egyptian Royal Guard and ultimately became its commander in the late-1920s. He was later promoted to Chief Aide-de-Camp (; Kebeer-al-Yawaran) to both Kings Fuad and Farouk, in which capacity he commanded the King's Military Household (predecessor to the Republican Guard of Egypt), which included the royal guard, palace police, and other elite military units directly responsible for protecting the monarchy.

Refki was appointed Egypt's Minister of War and Marine in December 1937, during the early reign of King Farouk of Egypt. King Farouk appointed Refki to the Egyptian Senate (; Majlis-al-Shuyukh), the upper-house of the Egyptian Parliament, in 1939.

A street is named for Refki in the Sarayat El-Quba neighbourhood of Heliopolis, Cairo.

Personal life and family

Refki's only child, Chancellor Hafez Refky, was Vice-President of Egypt's Court of Cassation (; Mahkamat-al-Naqd), Egypt's highest appellate court, and a member of Egypt's Supreme Judicial Council (; Majlis al-Qada' al-A'la). Refki's nephew, Chancellor Fouad Hafez, was President of the Egyptian Court of Appeals in Cairo (; Mahkamat Isti'naf al-Qahirah).

Hussein Refki Pasha is related to the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt through his mother, who is directly descended from the dynasty's founder, Muhammad Ali of Egypt. Since the 1930s Refki and his patrilineal descendants have used the surname "Refky" or "Refki."

Awards and honours

Grand Cordon Order of Ismail Grand Cordon Order of the Nile

Honour Medal of Syrian Merit, First Class Honour Medal of Lebanese Merit, First Class Grand Officer Order of Leopold II Order of the Medjidie British War Medal Victory Medal (United Kingdom) 1914-1915 Star Queen's Sudan Medal Khedive's Sudan Medal (1897)