FROM RANKER TO PASHA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11894, 1 January 1917, Page 4

FROM RANKER TO PASHA.

On August 2, 1840, Mehemet Alione of the most striking examples in the nineteenth century of men who hav<> nscended to fho highest grades 01 society from the lowest stations of iife - died. This remarkable man ivas of Turkish origin, and commencing life as a tobacconist abandoned trade in ordo;to enter tho array, where by his bravery and skill he soon received promotion ; finally, on the death of his commander, being appointed his successor., and afterwards marrying his widow. During the French invasion of Egypt? he greatly distinguished himself in th>s various encounters with the troops of Napoleon, and gained such popularity with the lower classes that in ISO 3, when the Viceroy Khoorshid Poosha was deposed by the populace, tliey insisted upon Mehemet AH taking the facant post. Although his position was ratified by the Sultan, it was persistently disregarded by the Mameluke Beys, and Me hem ft Ali was engaged for several years in a struggle with thia faction; but he at length overcame tft&m by treachery and the massacre of the Mamelukes ever remained a blot upon, liis name. After he had disposed cf these formidable enemies, Mehemet proceeded to consolidate his power, And gradually became undisputed master of Eeypt and its dependencies. But after the capture of Syria by his son, Ibrahim Pasha, the Sultan, whose apprehensions had been aroused by th< increasing power of liis vassal, declared him to be a rebel, and sent troojii against him, the result being very disastrous to the Sublime Porte. The European Powers then interfered, and for a few yearß a strict neutrality was observed; then hostilities were recommenced and it was not until Great Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia combined against him that Mekem®& Ali was subdued; and the last eigSf years of his life were spent in comparative quietude. Unliko his predecessors, Mehemet Ali was exceedingly lib-eral-minded, and not only tolerated tho Christian religion, but encouraged European arts and crafts, and greatly improved his dominions both comtuer-1 daily and socially. ]