Ibrahim Edhem Pasha
Encyclopedia
Ibrahim Edhem Pasha was an Ottoman
statesman who held the office of Grand Vizier
in the beginning of Abdulhamid II's reign between 5 February 1877 and 11 January 1878. He served numerous administrative positions in the Ottoman Empire
including Ottoman minister of foreign affairs in 1856, Ottoman ambassador
to Berlin
in 1876 and Ottoman ambassador to Vienna
from 1879 to 1882. He also served as Army Engineer and Ottoman minister of interior from 1883 to 1885. In 1876-1877 he represented the Ottoman Government at the Constantinople Conference
.
(Sakız in Turkish
). As a young boy in 1822 he was orphaned and captured as a prisoner of war by Ottoman soldiers during the massacre of the Greek population of Chios
. He was sold into slavery brought to Constantinople and adopted by the (later) grand vizier Husrev Pasha. Lacking his own children and family, Hüsrev Pasha raised several children who had been orphaned or bought as slaves, he had adopted up to ten children as such, many of them ascending to important positions in society in time.
The child, now named İbrahim Edhem, quickly distinguished himself with his intelligence and after having attended schools in Turkey
, he has been dispatched along with a number of his peers, and under the supervision of his father, then grand vizier, and of the sultan Mahmud II
himself, to Paris
to pursue his studies under state scholarship. There he returned a bachelor of arts
, and was one of the top pupils at the Ecole des Mines
. He has been a classmate and a friend of Louis Pasteur
. He has thus become Turkey's first mining engineer in the modern sense, and he started his career in this field.
, a well-known archaeologist and painter, as well the founder of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum
and of the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts. Another son, Halil Edhem Eldem took up the archaeology museum after Osman Hamdi Bey's death and has been a deputy for ten years under the newly founded Turkish Republic
. Yet another son, İsmail Galib Bey, is considered as the founder of numismatics
as a scientific discipline in Turkey. Later generations of the family also produced illustrious names. Whereas the architect Sedat Hakkı Eldem, a cousin, is one of the pillars of the search for modern architectural styles adopted by the Republic of Turkey
(called the Republican style in the Turkish
context) in its early years and which marks many important buildings dating from the period of the twenties and the thirties in Turkey
. A great-grandson, Burak Eldem
, is a writer while another, Edhem Eldem, is a renowned historian.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
statesman who held the office of Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
in the beginning of Abdulhamid II's reign between 5 February 1877 and 11 January 1878. He served numerous administrative positions in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
including Ottoman minister of foreign affairs in 1856, Ottoman ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1876 and Ottoman ambassador to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
from 1879 to 1882. He also served as Army Engineer and Ottoman minister of interior from 1883 to 1885. In 1876-1877 he represented the Ottoman Government at the Constantinople Conference
Constantinople Conference
The 1876–1877 Constantinople Conference of the Great Powers was held in Constantinople from 23 December 1876 until 20 January 1877...
.
Early life
He was born of Greek ancestry, in a Christian Greek Orthodox village on the island of ChiosChios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
(Sakız in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
). As a young boy in 1822 he was orphaned and captured as a prisoner of war by Ottoman soldiers during the massacre of the Greek population of Chios
Chios Massacre
The Chios Massacre refers to the slaughter of tens of thousands of Greeks on the island of Chios by Ottoman troops during the Greek War of Independence in 1822. Greeks from neighbouring islands arrived on Chios and encouraged the Chians to join the struggle for independence. In response, Ottoman...
. He was sold into slavery brought to Constantinople and adopted by the (later) grand vizier Husrev Pasha. Lacking his own children and family, Hüsrev Pasha raised several children who had been orphaned or bought as slaves, he had adopted up to ten children as such, many of them ascending to important positions in society in time.
The child, now named İbrahim Edhem, quickly distinguished himself with his intelligence and after having attended schools in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, he has been dispatched along with a number of his peers, and under the supervision of his father, then grand vizier, and of the sultan Mahmud II
Mahmud II
Mahmud II was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. He was born in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, the son of Sultan Abdulhamid I...
himself, to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to pursue his studies under state scholarship. There he returned a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, and was one of the top pupils at the Ecole des Mines
École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris
The École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris was created in 1783 by King Louis XVI in order to train intelligent directors of mines. It is one of the most prominent French engineering schoolsThe École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (also known as Mines ParisTech, École des Mines de...
. He has been a classmate and a friend of Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist born in Dole. He is remembered for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and preventions of diseases. His discoveries reduced mortality from puerperal fever, and he created the first vaccine for rabies and anthrax. His experiments...
. He has thus become Turkey's first mining engineer in the modern sense, and he started his career in this field.
Edhem Pasha lineage
Ibrahim Edhem Pasha was the father of Osman Hamdi BeyOsman Hamdi Bey
Osman Hamdi Bey was an Ottoman statesman, intellectual, art expert and also a prominent and pioneering Turkish painter. He was also an accomplished archaeologist, and is considered as the pioneer of the museum curator's profession in Turkey...
, a well-known archaeologist and painter, as well the founder of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum
Istanbul Archaeology Museum
The Istanbul Archaeology Museums is a group of three archeological museums located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, Turkey, near Gülhane Park and Topkapı Palace.The Istanbul Archaeology Museums consists of three museums....
and of the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts. Another son, Halil Edhem Eldem took up the archaeology museum after Osman Hamdi Bey's death and has been a deputy for ten years under the newly founded Turkish Republic
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Yet another son, İsmail Galib Bey, is considered as the founder of numismatics
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
as a scientific discipline in Turkey. Later generations of the family also produced illustrious names. Whereas the architect Sedat Hakkı Eldem, a cousin, is one of the pillars of the search for modern architectural styles adopted by the Republic of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(called the Republican style in the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
context) in its early years and which marks many important buildings dating from the period of the twenties and the thirties in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. A great-grandson, Burak Eldem
Burak Eldem
Burak Eldem is a Turkish writer/researcher, a former radio and TV programmer, web developer and journalist. He is the author of "2012: Rendez-vous With Marduk" , Fraternis: Lost Books, Secret Brotherhood and Talismans Protect Thee...
, is a writer while another, Edhem Eldem, is a renowned historian.