OMAR PASHA, a celebrated Turkish general, was b. at Flask!, an Austrian village in the Croatian military frontier, in 1806 (according to some authorities, in 1811). His real name was Mikail Lattas, and his father being an officer in the Austrian army. Mikail was educated at the military school of Thum, near Carlstadt, where he greatly distin guished himself. He afterward joined one of the frontier regiments as a cadet, and was employed as secretary by the military intpector of roads and bridges: but having by some breach of discipline rendered himself amenable to punishment, he fled to Bosnia, where he became book-keeper to a Turkish merchant, and embraced Mohammedanism, He was next employed by Hussein Pasha, the governor of Widin, as tutor to his sons; and in 1834 was sent in charge of them to Constantinople, where his beautiful calligraphy gained for him the post of writing-master in the military school. Omar Effendi (as he was now called) was next appointed writing-master to Abdul-Medjid, the heir to the throne, and received the honorary rank of rapt. in the Turkish army, and the hand of a rich heiress. On his pupil's accession in 1839. Omar was raised to the rank of col., and sent to Syria to aid in the suppression of disturbances which had Inoken out in that province, and in 1842 he was appointed military governor of the Lebanon district. The severity of his rule did not hinder the Maronites from desiring to have hint as chief of the mountain; but in the following year he was recalled, received the title of pasha, and was sent, along with Redschid Pasha. against the revolted Albanians. The skill and energy with which he suppressea this insurrection, as well as others in Bosnia and Kur distan, raised him high in favor with the sultan. Toward the end of 1852 he opened the campaign against the Montenegrins. who were being rapidly subdued, when Austria interfered and compelled a treaty. On the invasion of the principalities by the Russians (July 1853), Omar collected at Schumla on army of G0,000 men to cover Constantinople: but being no less a politician than a soldier, he soon divined that the Russians would not immediately cross the Danube, and accordingly pushed on to Widin, where he crossed the river in presence of the enemy and intrenched himself at Kalafat. Another part of
the Turkish army moved down the Danube to Turtukai. near Silistria. crossed the river at that place, and intrenched themselves at Oltenitza. On Nov. 4, the latter division were attacked by 9,000 Russians, whom they totally defeated with a loss of nearly 4.000 men and almost all their officers. The Russians also received two severe cheeks:It Kahn fat, on Jan. 6. and March 15. 1855. Omar kept up the spirit of Ids troops by occasional successful skirmishes with the Russians, and threw a garrison of 8.000 men into Silistria. In the following spring the Russians passed the Danube at two points, and laid siege to Silistria (q.v.), but their assaults were invariably repulsed with severe loss. The Rus sians then withdrew from the principalities. and Omar entered Bucharest in triumph in August, 1854. On Feb. 9. 1855, he embarked for Eunatoria. where, on the 17th of the same month, he was suddenly attacked by 40,000 Russ'• n:. who were repulsed with great loss. He was soon afterward (Oct. 3, 1855) sent to -eheve Kars, but arrived too late. and he armistice which followed (Feb. 29. 1856) a stop to his military career. He was subsequently made governor of Bagdad; but having been :teemed of malcdmin istration, was banished to Kaarport in 1859. He was recalled in the following year. and in September, 1861, was sent to pacify Bosnia and Heregovina, Which were again is insurrection. This being accomplisned, he attacked the Montenegrins, captured their chief town of Cetinji, and overran the country in 1862. Omar held the grand cross of the legion of honor, and was a knight of the Russian order of St. Anne. He ceased to take part in public life iu 1809, being thereafter regarded as a minister without portfolio; and died in 1871.