Hussein Sirri Pasha (1894–1960)

Hussein Sirri Pasha
حسين سري باشا
25th Prime Minister of Egypt
In office
November 15, 1940 – February 4, 1942
MonarchFarouk I
Preceded byHassan Sabry Pasha
Succeeded byMustafa el-Nahhas Pasha
In office
July 25, 1949 – January 12, 1950
MonarchFarouk I
Preceded byIbrahim Abdel Hadi Pasha
Succeeded byMustafa el-Nahhas Pasha
In office
July 2, 1952 – July 22, 1952
MonarchFarouk I
Preceded byAhmad Naguib Hilali Pasha
Succeeded byAhmad Naguib Hilali Pasha
Personal details
Born1894 (1894)
Khedivate of Egypt
Died1960 (aged 65–66)
ParentIsmail Sirri Pasha (father)

Hussein Sirri Pasha (Arabic: حسين سري باشا; 1894–1960) was an Egyptian politician. He served as 25th Prime Minister of Egypt for three short periods, during which he also served as foreign minister.

Early life and education

Hussein Sirri was the son of Ismail Sirri Pasha (1861–1937). He received a degree in civil engineering in Paris.[1]

Career

Sirri Pasha began his career as an engineer at the Ministry of Public Works, and was appointed as minister to the same body in 1937.[2] He was minister of finance from 1939 to 1940.[3] Sirri Pasha first served as prime minister from 1940 until 1942, the height of the Axis and Allied confrontation in Egypt's Western Desert in the Second World War, which concluded with the Second Battle of El Alamein. His cabinet was announced on 18 November 1940, and he formed it without having any affiliation with the political parties.[4]

In February 1941, the Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Menzies, visited Cairo and met with Sirri. Writing in 1967, he said "We found that political problems are the same the wide world over, and laughed about them." He then wrote that "The great pity was that so good a Prime Minister had to serve under so poor a King. Sirri Pasha was... a good administrator, and completely honest."[5]

Sirri next served as prime minister from July 1949 until January 1950. His final term was for three weeks in July 1952, amidst a political crisis which culminated in the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, and the abdication of King Farouk.

Personal life

Sirri Pasha was married to the aunt of Queen Farida, spouse of King Farouk.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Hilaly Falls". Time. 7 July 1952. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Fouad Fahmy Shafik (1981). The Press and Politics of Modern Egypt: 1798-1970. A Comparative Analysis of Causal Relationships (PhD thesis). New York University. pp. 209–210. ISBN 9798661819062. ProQuest 303021068.
  3. ^ Goldschmidt Jr., Arthur (2003). Historical Dictionary of Egypt. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6586-0.
  4. ^ "The New Cairo Cabinet". The Palestine Post⁩⁩. Cairo. 18 November 1940. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  5. ^ Sir Robert Menzies (1967). Afternoon Light: Some Memories of Men and Events (Second ed.). Melbourne: Cassell. pp. 23–24. ISBN 9780304915088.
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Egypt
1940–1942 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Egypt
1949–1950 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Egypt
1952 		Succeeded by