Abbas Hilmi II

• He was born on July 14, 1874 in Cairo.
• He was tutored by private instructors to the age of ten in the school of princes in the Palace in Cairo.
• Khedive Muhammad Tawfiq sent him to study in Geneva, Switzerland and Vienna.
• He ruled Egypt on January 8, 1892, after his father’s death.
• The Khedive hold onto the rights of Egypt and opposed the British policies as he wanted to be a real Khedive, not just a puppet in the hands of the British.
• He got married twice and had six sons.
• Abbas Hilmi II tried to adopt a reform policy, get closer to the Egyptians and resist the British occupation. However, this did not last for long.
• The British took advantage of the signs of World War I outbreak, during which he was abroad, and ousted Khedive Abbas on December 19, 1914. They asked Abbas Hilmi II not to return to Egypt and proclaimed his uncle Hussein Kamel the Sultan of Egypt.
• During his reign, railroad lines were extended between many Egyptian cities, and they expanded.
• He established the agricultural road linking Cairo to Alexandria, and another one linking Helwan to Cairo and then to Al Qanatir Al Khayriyyah.
• He established Abbas Bridge (currently Giza Bridge), El-Malek El-Salih Bridge, Muhammad Ali Bridge, Bulaq Bridge, Zamalek Bridge and Al-Galaa Bridge.
• Oil was discovered during his reign in 1912.
• Several newspapers and periodicals appeared during his reign, including: Al-Hilal, Al-Liwaa, and Al-Jarida.
• He established the National Bank of Egypt, the Agricultural Society, the Egyptian Arab Land Bank, the Islamic Charitable Association and the Legislative Assembly.
• Education in his era witnessed progress. He also dispatched the first scientific missions, and opened Ahlia University project.
• Khedive Abbas Hilmi II passed away on December 19, 1944.