VEFIK Ahmet Pasha

(1823-1891)
Born in Constantinople in 1819, education received in Paris. Political career began as the first secretary of the Ottoman Embassy in Paris during the reign of Louis Philippe. Later he served in the same position in St. Petersburg. In 1848 became Commissioner of the Danube principalities, and from 1851 to 1855 was ambassador to Persia. Following the appointment in 1857, the Minister of Justice did much to reform the judicial system. In 1860 it was sent as ambassador to Paris. His appointment coincided with the massacre in Syria, so next year, France has demanded its withdrawal. During the Russian-Turkish war Vefik Ahmet Pasha served as Governor General of Adrianople, and in 1877 became chairman of the first parliament of the country. In 1878, Sultan Abdul Hamid II appointed him grand vizier, but after the signing of the San Stefano treaty Vefik Ahmet Pasha was sent as a wali (governor-general) in Bursa, where he stayed from 1878 to 1882. Ahmet Vefik Pasha made a great contribution to the development of local agriculture, economy and education. In 1882 he was arrested by his opponents of treason. After his release on the orders of Abdul Hamid was appointed Grand Vizier. However, after three days, he replaced longtime rival - Said Pasha. Balance days Vefik Ahmet Pasha spent at his country house on the shore of the Bosphorus. Under his editorship of the publication has undergone several dictionaries, he began to publish a yearbook of the Ottoman Empire, translated into Turkish works of Moliere, Schiller and Shakespeare. Umer Ahmed Vefik Pasha in March 1891.