Background
Isma"il Ragheb was of Greek ancestry and was born in Greece on 18 August 1819 on either the island of Chios following the great Massacre or Candia Crete.
economist Prime Minister of Egypt
Isma"il Ragheb was of Greek ancestry and was born in Greece on 18 August 1819 on either the island of Chios following the great Massacre or Candia Crete.
Immediately following his arrival, he studied at al-Maktab al-Amiri and obtained his advanced degree in 1834.
He was fluent in Greek and was elevated to the rank of First Lieutenant by Egypt"s viceroy Muhammad Ali Pasha. In 1836, he became head of the Accounting and Revenue Agencies. He was promoted to the rank of bikbashi (Lieutenant Colonel) in 1840, then kaymakam (Colonel) in 1844, and finally amiralay (Brigadier General) in 1846.
He held the positions of Minister of Finance (1858–1860), then Minister of War (1860–1861).
He became Inspector for the Maritime Provinces in 1862, and later Assistant (Arabic: باشمعاون) to viceroy Isma"il Pasha (1863–1865). He was granted the title of beylerbey and then appointed President of the Privy council in 1868.
He was appointed President of the Chamber of Deputies (1866–1867), then Minister of Interior in 1867, then Minister of Agriculture and Trade in 1875. He again held the Finance portfolio in Muhammad Sharif Pasha"s first government (1879).
After the fall of Mahmoud Sami el-Baroudi"s government, Isma"il Ragheb became Prime Minister of Egypt in 1882.
Although his government was short-lived (it lasted from 17 June to 21 August only), it was the only one to present concrete programs. Isma"il Ragheb died in 1884.
