The post of Prime Minister did not exist in modern Egypt until 1878, a year before khedive Ismail went into exile at the order of the Ottoman Sultan. 

Mohammad Ali pasha (al-kabir) (1769-1849), the founder of the dynasty that ruled Egypt until July 23rd 1952, had an absolute power over the country and did not feel it would be necessary to rule through a cabinet. In 1837 he decided to divide his government amongst seven ministries (Dawaweene), each headed by an “overseer” (Nazer), as follows:

1-   The Wali Diwan, in charge of the interior.
2-   The all revenues Diwan, in charge of finances.
3-   The sea Diwan, in charge of the Navy.
4-   The foreign matters and Egyptian trade Diwan, in charge of foreign affairs  and trade.
5- Diwan of the army (Jihadyah).
6- Diwan of schools (Diwan al- Madaress).
7-   Diwan of fawriqat, in charge of industry.

During the Welayats of Ibrahim Pasha (1789-1848), Abbas Pasha (Abbas Helmi the first, (1812-1854) and Said Pasha (1822-1863) there was no change from the system established by Mohammad Ali Pasha.

During the first few years of his reign he was helped in his extravagant expenses by the very high price of the Egyptian cotton, caused by the civil war in the United States. but, at the end of that war, the price of cotton fell drastically and Ismail had to rely on external debt to carry on with his modernizing plans. By 1875, Egypt was not in a position to repay its foreign debts.  A committee of foreign powers' representatives was formed to study the financial situation of the country and to make the necessary recommendations to correct the situation. One of its recommendations was the formation of a cabinet headed by a prime minister who in turn would report to the khedive. The first prime minister of Egypt was appointed in 1878.  At the request of the foreign powers, particularly England and France, Ismail appointed Nubar Pasha as his first prime minister.
 

This essay will describe, in brief, the life and achievements (or the lack of it), of each Egyptian prime minister, from 1878 until the July Revolution of 1952:

Nubar Nubarian was born in Smyrna (Izmir), Anatolia, on July 4, 1824.  he was brought into Egypt by his maternal uncle, Bughus bey Youssef, the chief interpreter of Mohammed Ali Pasha and his financial adviser, where he worked as an assistant to his uncle. He was sent to France, by the Wali to study military science.  He returned to Egypt where he worked for his uncle ‘s successor, Khusrew bey.  He married the daughter of a very wealthy Armenian merchant, from Istanbul, with very close ties with the sultan, which helped Nubar in his civil service career in Egypt. Nubar served his patrons in several diplomatic missions and, under Said pasha, he was appointed as director of the communications and railways department.  Under Ismail Pasha, he was the architect of  the “Mixed courts” (al-Mahakem al-Mokhtalatah) after which he was appointed to look after the foreign affairs of the country.

Under strong pressure from the foreign powers, Ismail appointed Nubar as his first prime minister, on August 1878.  Nubar formed a “foreign cabinet” composed mostly of Turkish and European members as follows:  Foreign affairs and justice (Nubar pasha); finances (Rivers Wilson); public works (De Bligniere); interior (Ryad pasha);  Jihadyah (army) (Rateb pasha);  religious affairs (Awqaf) and public instruction (Maaref) (Ali Moubarak pasha).

The cabinet held, until its dismissal by khedive Ismail, 30 meetings during which the ministers discussed mostly the precarious financial situation of the country.  The cabinet reduced the number of the army to eight thousands men, thus dismissing from the service two thousands and five hundreds officers!  The dismissed officers demonstrated, particularly in front of the minister of finances, asking for the full payment of their suspended salaries. The khedive, who was not happy with sharing his absolute power with his prime minister, dismissed the Nubar cabinet on February 23rd, 1879, and, on March 10, 1879, and appointed his oldest son, prince Mohammad Tawfik, as the second prime minister of modern Egypt.

It is interesting to note that all the discussions of the first Nubar cabinet were carried on in the French language, and the minutes of all its meetings were also written in French! The Nubar cabinet abolished all the subsidies accorded to the press, dismissed the minister of Jihadyah as a result of the officers protests, which did not save the cabinet from the ire of the khedive.  The cabinet allocated one thousand pounds to the “Azhar al Sharif” and ninety “Ardabs” of wheat to the “Soeur de la charité(Rahibat al Rahmah)!

Nubar Pasha died in France in 1899.  While at the service of Egypt, he amassed a fabulous fortune, probably while dealing with Foreign Powers and Financial Institutions.  During the First Nubar Cabinet he negotiated and obtained from the Rotchild Bank a loan of 8,500,000 Pounds against the mortgage of 495,729 "feddans" owned by the Khedivian family, which earned that loan the name of the Domain Loan. (1)  In fact, the total money received by Egypt was 5,992,500 Pounds.  The balance, which is 2,507,500, is believed to be commissions paid (read bribes)!!!

Before closing the chapter of the first Nubar cabinet, I would like to mention the following story:  The Egyptian naval authorities arrested a young man, near the Alexandria naval base, under suspicion of espionage. After nineteen days in detention with daily torture, it was discovered that the young man was working under cover to fight against the smuggling of drugs and tobacco.  He was released in pretty bad shape.  His family sent a complaint to Nubar Pasha who submitted the matter to the cabinet, which, after investigating the matter, fired Qasem Pasha, the deputy minister of Jihadyah!!!

As mentioned above, khedive Ismail appointed his oldest son, Mohammad Tawfik, as Prime Minister, in replacement of Nubar, on March 10 1879. 

The Tawfik cabinet lasted 21 days.  He resigned on April 7, 1879 as a result of a dispute between the “Majlis al-Shouri” and the cabinet.  The Majlis voted for a reduction of taxes and for the principle of no new taxes without the Majlis ‘ approval (no taxation without representation).  The Majlis also sent requests to the Khedive urging the formation of a national cabinet responsible to the Majlis.  when Mr. Rivers refused to appear in front of the Majlis, Prince Tawfik resigned. Ismail accepted his son's resignation and appointed Mohammad Cherif Pasha as a new Prime Minister.
 

Kamal K. Katba