Sultan Hussein Kamel of Egypt

• 4 / 7 / 2024

Sultan Hussein Kamel was a leader in Egypt from 1914 to 1917 when the British were in charge. He was the first person to have the title of Sultan in Egypt for a long time since the Ottomans took over in 1517. Hussein Kamel became the ruler of Egypt in 1914, but he was actually under the control of British officials. This ended the rule of the Ottoman Empire over Egypt, which had been in place for a long time.
When Hussein Kamel died, his son Prince Kamal el Dine Hussein didn't want to become the new ruler. Instead, his uncle Ahmed Fuad became the king. In a book by Naguib Mahfouz, a character praises Prince Kamal for not wanting to be king while the British were in charge. You can see special pictures of when Sultan Hussein became king and when he was buried on the American University in Cairo's online library.
He returned to Egypt when the Suez Canal was opened, and he worked as a translator for Empress Eugenie. The Khedive Tawfik asked him to welcome King Edward VII of Britain and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. He held various positions in the government, such as Inspector General of the maritime and land provinces, head of public works, finance minister, and president of the General Assembly and Council of Laws. He became the ruler of Egypt after the British protectorate was declared in December 1914. He saved the country from the floods of the Nile by taking precautions to secure and strengthen bridges. He was the first to establish agricultural exhibitions in Egypt and built railways connecting Helwan to the capital. He introduced academic excellence rewards for students, which increased competition and improved the education system. He also founded military schools for children in Cairo and Alexandria. He was the first Egyptian ruler to have his name on coins after the end of Ottoman rule. He passed away on October 9, 1917.
Hussein Kamel was given awards and honors from different countries, like the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Romania, and Belgium for his important work and leadership.