Egypt’s Nasser 100
January 16, 2018
Yesterday, January 15, marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gamal Abdel Nasser, a towering figure of Egyptian history during the 1900′s. Nasser led the revolt that overthrew King Faruk in 1952 and made Egypt a republic. Nasser then instituted significant changes within Egyptian society as he served as the nation’s prime minister and president. Nasser modernized much of Egypt while also helping unify the Arab world. He accomplished many things for the Egyptian people, but his authoritarian rule allowed little political opposition. Nasser also stirred international tensions and steered his country into the disastrous Arab-Israeli war of 1967.
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser waves to exuberant supporters in Port Said, Egypt, in June 1956. Credit: © AP Photo
Nasser was born on Jan. 15, 1918, in Alexandria, Egypt’s busiest seaport and second largest city. Nasser grew up during a time of British influence in Egypt, and he was a strong supporter of Egyptian nationalism. Nasser graduated from the Royal Military Academy in Cairo, the capital, in 1938. As the United Kingdom fought Germany for control of Egypt during World War II (1939-1945), Nasser was among a group of young officers anticipating an Egyptian revolution. He fought in the Arab war against Israel in 1948 and 1949.
Egypt’s revolution came in July 1952, when Nasser and a discontented army group known as the Free Officers seized power and sent the reigning monarch, King Faruk, into exile. Nasser believed that Egypt’s government was corrupt and that only a change in government could bring economic progress and complete political independence to Egypt.
Nasser became prime minister of Egypt in February 1954. He became president soon after. In July, Nasser triggered an international crisis by nationalizing (taking control of) the Suez Canal, then under British and French control. Nasser used the money generated by the canal to build the Aswan High Dam. In 1958, in a move toward Arab unity, Syria and Egypt formed the United Arab Republic (U.A.R.). Nasser served as U.A.R. president until Syria withdrew from the union in 1961. In June 1967, mounting tensions with Israel resulted in a brief war that ended in a stinging Egyptian defeat and Egypt’s loss of the Sinai Peninsula. Nasser tried to resign from office after the war, but the Egyptian people and the National Assembly refused to accept his resignation. He served as both president and prime minister until his sudden death from a heart attack on Sept. 28, 1970. Millions of Egyptians turned out for Nasser’s funeral procession through Cairo.
