Yusuf Kamil Pasha

Yusuf Kâmil Pasha (; 1808, Arapgir – 1876, Constantinople) was an Ottoman statesman and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz.

Life and career

Yusuf Kâmil was born in the Anatolian city of Arapgir, and belonged to the Gökbeyi family of the Aq Qoyunlu tribe. His father, Ismâil Beyzâde Mehmed Bey, died when he was young, and he was raised by his uncle Gümrükçü Osman Pasha. While Osman Pasha served as the governor of the sanjaks of Kayseri and Bozok in Ankara Eyalet, Yusuf Kâmil was educated by private tutors, but finished his education in Istanbul after his uncle was recalled to the capital. In 1829, after completing his education, Yusuf Kâmil entered government service, and worked as a scribe for the Imperial Divan for four years. After entering the service of Mehmed Ali Pasha, he eventually worked his way up in the court, and eventually married Mehmed Ali's daughter, Zeynep Hanim. In 1845, Mehmed Ali Pasha sent Yusuf Kâmil on a mission as the Egyptian envoy to the wedding of Mahmud II's daughter Adile Sultan to Damat Mehmed Ali Pasha. He travelled to Istanbul with lavish gifts and tribute. In recognition of his role, the Sultan granted Yusuf Kâmil the title Mîr-i Mîrân , equivalent to the rank of beylerbey. After several months of captivity in exile, and many letters written to the Sultan and to the Grand Vizier Mustafa Reşid Pasha, Yusuf Kâmil was finally released, and was permitted to travel to Istanbul, where he was reunited with his wife.

Awards