ISMAIL' PASHA', or ISMAIL I., Viceroy and Khedive of Egypt; b. Cairo, Egypt, 1830; is the second son of Ibrahim Pasha, and grandson of Mehemet Ali. Educated at Paris, on his return to Egypt he was appointed by his uncle Said Pasha to the govern ment of the country during his uncle's absence in Europe, and in 1862 placed in command of the army. On the death of Said Pasha in 1863 he succeeded as the fifth viceroy of Egypt. During the American war of the rebellion he acquired vast wealth by the production of cotton. Regarding the Suez canal of count de Lesseps as conducing to the power and resources of Egypt, he actively encouraged the enterprise. In 1866 secured from the sultan the hereditary succession in his line, and in 1867 had conferred upon him the title of khedive. Not satisfied with these privileges he demanded more, threatening to withdraw the troops he had sent against the Cretan insurgents and to seize Crete if his demands were refused. By the advice of foreign powers lie recalled his demand. But in 1868-69, by extending his rule over the Upper and White Nile. by making foreign loans for the increase of his army and navy, by proposing the neutralization of the Suez canal and inviting foreign rulers to be present at its opening, he made himself almost an independent sovereign. The sultan commanded him to reduce his army, recall his orders for iron-clads and breech-loaders, and the contraction of foreign loans, threatening him with deposition if he refused. Not receiving expected aid from Russia and other powers, he submitted. Afterwards he received new preroga
tives, giving him control of his army, and liberty td make loans and commercial treaties. In 1874 he obtained a victory over the sultan of Darfur, central Africa. By public roads, agriculture, and other methods,' he endeavored to civilize' the surrounding rude tribes, and introduced many and various public improvements. But in 1879 the governments of France and England, in view of the wretched financial condition of Egypt and the dissatisfaction of the people with the administration, determined to interfere in behalf of good government, and united in demanding of the Porte that the khedive should commit the portfolios of finance and public works to English and French ministers. But the khedive resented any interference of the western powers with Egyptian affairs. The sultan offered to depose Ismail Pasha, and to appoint Halim Pasha, Ismail's uncle, as his successor; but the powers advised the khedive to abdicate, promising to support his son Tevfik. The sultan acquiesced in the course recommended, and, June 26, he signed the firman deposing the khedive in favor of his son, prince Mohammed Tcyfik. Ismail at once complied with the demand, and his son was proclaimed khedive as Tev Ilk I. Ismail received an annual allowance of £50,000, each of his sons Hassan and Hussein £20,000; his mother £30,000. Ismail Pasha left Egypt June 30, for Naples.