Hussein Sirri Pasha

Hussein Sirri Pasha (Arabic: حسين سري باشا; 1894–1960) was an Egyptian politician. He served as 25th Prime Minister of Egypt for three short periods, during which he also served as foreign minister.

Hussein Sirri Pasha
حسين سري باشا
25th Prime Minister of Egypt
In office November 15, 1940 – February 4, 1942
Monarch	Farouk I
Preceded by	Hassan Sabry Pasha
Succeeded by	Mustafa el-Nahhas Pasha
In office July 25, 1949 – January 12, 1950
Monarch	Farouk I
Preceded by	Ibrahim Abdel Hadi Pasha
Succeeded by	Mustafa el-Nahhas Pasha
In office July 2, 1952 – July 22, 1952
Monarch	Farouk I
Preceded by	Ahmad Naguib Hilali Pasha
Succeeded by	Ahmad Naguib Hilali Pasha
Personal details
Born	1894 (1894) Khedivate of Egypt
Died	1960 (aged 65–66)
Parent	Ismail Sirri Pasha (father)

Early life and education

Hussein Sirri was the son of Ismail Sirri Pasha (1861–1937). He received a degree in civil engineering in Paris.^[1]

Career

Sirri Pasha began his career as an engineer at the Ministry of Public Works, and was appointed as minister to the same body in 1937.^[2] He was minister of finance from 1939 to 1940.^[3] Sirri Pasha first served as prime minister from 1940 until 1942, the height of the Axis and Allied confrontation in Egypt's Western Desert in the Second World War, which concluded with the Second Battle of El Alamein. His cabinet was announced on 18 November 1940, and he formed it without having any affiliation with the political parties.^[4]

In February 1941, the Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Menzies, visited Cairo and met with Sirri. Writing in 1967, he said "We found that political problems are the same the wide world over, and laughed about them." He then wrote that "The great pity was that so good a Prime Minister had to serve under so poor a King. Sirri Pasha was... a good administrator, and completely honest."^[5]

Sirri next served as prime minister from July 1949 until January 1950. His final term was for three weeks in July 1952, amidst a political crisis which culminated in the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, and the abdication of King Farouk.

Personal life

Sirri Pasha was married to the aunt of Queen Farida, spouse of King Farouk.^[2]