Ahmed Arabi

(1839-1911)
Born in Lower Egypt in 1839. In 1862 he joined the Egyptian army, participated in the war with Ethiopia in 1875 and joined a secret society that aims to rid the country and the army of the Turkish-Circassian domination. In 1878 he received a commission from the Khedive Ismail to organize demonstrations against Christians. Rallied around him those who were dissatisfied with the Khedive Tewfik and the growth of Anglo-French influence in Egypt. After the armed intervention of the military in September 1881 the Khedive increased military pay and changed the head of government. In 1882 Arabi became Deputy Minister of War, then minister in the cabinet of Mahmoud Sami al-Baroudi, and received the title of Pasha. As defense minister, has resumed the modernization of the forts of Alexandria. Fortification works became a pretext for the bombing of Alexandria by the British, virtually destroyed the city. September 13 at Tell al-Kebir, the British army defeated the Egyptians. Arabi was arrested on December 3, 1882 and sentenced to death, which was replaced by a reference to Ceylon. In May 1901 the Khedive Abbas II granted him pardon and allowed to return to Egypt. Umer Arabi in Cairo on September 21, 1911.