Mahmud Nedim Pasha



Mahmud Nedim Pasha (c. 1818-1883) was an Ottoman statesman of Georgian origin. He was the son of Necib Pasha, ex-governor-general of Baghdad. After occupying various subordinate posts at the Porte he became under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, governor-general of Syria and Smyrna, minister of commerce, and governor-general of Tripoli; minister successively of justice and of marine (1869); grand vizier from 1871 to 1872 and from 1875 to 1876.

He was high in favour with Sultan Abdülaziz and fell much under the influence of General Ignatiev, the forceful Russian ambassador before the war of 1877-78, his subserviency to Russia earning for him the nickname of "Nedimoff". His administration was most unsuccessful from every point of view, and he was largely responsible for the issue of the decree suspending the interest on the Turkish funds. He was minister of the interior from 1879 to 1883.