About
Saad Zaghloul (1858-1927) was an Egyptian politician and a central figure of Egyptian nationalism. Born into a peasant family, he studied at Al-Azhar and law, then became a lawyer and judge. He served as Minister of Education (1906-1908) and Minister of Justice (1910-1912). In 1918, he led a delegation (Wafd) demanding Egypt's independence from the British. His arrest in 1919 sparked the Egyptian revolution. He founded the Wafd Party and became Prime Minister in 1924, the first of peasant origin. He resigned after the British ultimatum of 1924. Known as 'Za'im al-Umma' (Leader of the Nation), he is considered the father of Egyptian nationalism.
* 1858-07-01 — † 1927-08-23
Key milestones
- 1918On November 13, he led a delegation (Wafd) demanding Egypt's independence and representation at the Paris Peace Conference.
- 1919His arrest and deportation to Malta on March 9 triggered the Egyptian Revolution of 1919.
- 1924He became Prime Minister on January 27, the first Egyptian of peasant origin to hold the office.
Themes
Egyptian nationalismIndependenceNational unitySocial justicePolitical resistance
Sources: sis.gov.eg · britannica.com · oxfordreference.com