Said Pasha, Muhammad

Said Pasha, Muhammad

 

Born Mar. 17, 1822, in Cairo; died Jan. 18, 1863, in Alexandria. Ruler of Egypt (from 1854). Son of Muhammad Ali.

A proponent of the Europeanization of Egypt, Said Pasha implemented reforms that contributed to the development of capitalist relations in Egypt, such as the introduction of private ownership of land, the replacement of taxes in kind by taxes in money, and the introduction of free trade. He encouraged the founding of schools and other cultural institutions. In 1857 he abolished the slave trade. At the same time, Said Pasha encour; aged the penetration of foreign capital: in 1854 he gave F. M. de Lesseps the concession to build the Suez Canal on terms extremely unfavorable to Egypt.