Mehmed Emin Âli Paşa

Mehmed Emin Âli Paşa (born March 5, 1815, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Tur.]—died Sept. 7, 1871, Constantinople) was an Ottoman grand vizier (chief minister) distinguished for his westernizing reform policies. Together with Mustafa Reşid Paşa and Fuad Paşa, he was a main figure of the Tanzimat (Reorganization) period (1839–c. 1870) in Ottoman history. The son of a shopkeeper, Âli Paşa entered government service as a boy. Without formal education, he acquired some knowledge of...