Ahmed Wefik Pasha (Ottoman statesman, diplomat and Turcologist, 1823–1891)

Ahmed Wefik Pasha (1823–1891) was an Ottoman statesman, diplomat and Turkish scholar. He was twice grand vizier and president of the first Ottoman parliament, and he wrote the first Turkish dictionary in Turkish, the Lehce-i Osmani.

The Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.), article signed J. Deny, describes Ahmed Wefik as born in Istanbul on 23 Shawwal 1238/6 July 1823 into a family of interpreters, the grandson of Bulgar-zade Yahya Nadim, a converted dragoman of the Porte. He accompanied his father Ruh al-Din Mehmed Efendi, the Turkish chargé d'affaires in Paris, studied for three years at the Lycée Saint-Louis, and at fourteen returned to Turkey. His most important posts were ambassador in Paris (1860), inspector of the western Anatolian provinces, president of the first Ottoman parliament in 1876 with the rank of vizier and title of pasha, and twice grand vizier for short periods. As governor-general of Bursa he restored the Yeşil Cami. He defended Turkish interests during the Russian occupation of the Danubian principalities and the French occupation of Lebanon. He edited the first official year-book (1876). ¹

Strong-willed, energetic, honest and frank, he was also whimsical and eccentric. Debarred from office by the enmity of 'Ali Pasha, he worked in the library of his villa at Rumeli Hisar and produced works without putting his name to them. He was one of the first Turkicists and made a large contribution to the purist movement. His Lehce-i Osmani (1876; second edition 1890) was the first Turkish dictionary worthy of the name, and it formed the basis for later work, including that of Shams al-Din Sami. His adaptation of sixteen comedies of Moliere is a masterpiece, and he also translated Telemaque, Gil Blas and Voltaire's Micromegas. He was buried at the Kayalar cemetery at Rumeli Hisar, and the Sultan's displeasure is thought to have been the reason. He died in Istanbul on 22 Sha'ban 1308/2 April 1891. ¹