Abbas II of Egypt
The last Khedive of Egypt, a nationalist ruler whose struggle against British control ended with his deposition at the start of World War I.
1874–1944 (age 70)·Khedive of Egypt and Sudan from 1892 to 1914·Birthday: July 14·The Gilded Age
Biography
Abbas Hilmi II ascended to the throne of Egypt and Sudan as Khedive in 1892, a young ruler in a land that was officially an Ottoman province but effectively under British occupation. Chafing against the authority of the British consul-general, Lord Cromer, he became a focal point for Egyptian nationalist aspirations, secretly supporting anti-British newspapers and political movements. His reign saw significant economic development, including the expansion of the railway network and agricultural reforms, but his political maneuvering created constant friction with the colonial power. When the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers in World War I, Britain, fearing his loyalties, moved decisively: they declared Egypt a British protectorate, severed its nominal ties to Istanbul, and removed Abbas II from power. He spent the rest of his life in exile, a symbol of a thwarted independent monarchy.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Abbas was born in 1874, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Abbas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1874
Abbas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1874Born
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1879Started school
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1887Became a teenager
President: Grover Cleveland
1890Could drive
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1892Could vote
President: Benjamin Harrison
1895Turned 21
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1904Turned 30
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Turned 40
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Turned 50
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1934Turned 60
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1944Turned 70
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
Key Achievements
- He founded the Egyptian University (now Cairo University) in 1908.
- He greatly expanded the Egyptian railway system during his reign.
- He was a key patron of the Egyptian nationalist movement before World War I.
Did You Know?
He was educated at the Theresianum Academy in Vienna and spoke several languages.
He was an avid hunter and published a book on his hunting expeditions in Sudan.
He died in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1944, never having returned to Egypt after his deposition.
He was the great-great-grandson of Muhammad Ali Pasha, the founder of modern Egypt.
“I am the ruler of this country, not the British Agency.”
