Nubar Pasha

Nubar Pasha GCSI (; ; January 1825 – 14 January 1899) was an Egyptian-Armenian politician and the first Prime Minister of Egypt. He served as Prime Minister three times during his career. His first term was between August 1878 and 23 February 1879. His second term was served from 10 January 1884 to 9 June 1888. His final term was between 16 April 1894 and 12 November 1895.

Early life Nubar was born Nubar Nubarian in Smyrna (modern day İzmir) in January 1825, the son of a Christian Armenian merchant named Mgrdich, who had married a relative of Boghos Bey Yusufian, an influential minister of Muhammad Ali. Boghos Bey had promised to interest himself in the future of his young relative, and at his suggestion he was sent first to Vevey, and then to Toulouse, to be educated by the Jesuits, from whom he learnt the French language.

Khedival Secretary: 1843-1863 Before he was 18 he went to Egypt, and after 18 months training as secretary to Boghos Bey, who was then minister of both commerce and foreign affairs, he was made second secretary to Muhammad Ali. In 1845 he became first secretary to Ibrahim Pasha, the heir apparent, and accompanied him on a special mission to Europe. Nubar remained out of office until 1884.

Prime Minister: 1894-1895 Riyad Pasha, who succeeded him, was prime minister for eight months until April 1894, when Nubar returned to office. By that time Lord Cromer had more control of administration as well as of government, and Nubar had realized more clearly the role which an Egyptian minister was meant on to play: Lord Cromer was the real ruler of Egypt, and the death of Tawfiq in 1892 had necessitated a more open exercise of British authority.

In November 1895 Nubar complete fifty years of service, and, accepting a pension, retired from office. He lived little more than three years longer, spending his time between Cairo and Paris, where he died in January 1899.

Legacy Nubarashen, a suburb of Yerevan, was founded in 1930 with the help of Boghos Nubar, Nubar Pasha's son, and is named after Nubar Pasha.