Ahmed Vefik Pasha

Ahmed Vefik Pasha (1819-1891), Ottoman statesman, born in Constantinople (now İstanbul, Turkey) and educated in Paris, France. Ahmed began his political career as first secretary to the Turkish embassy in Paris during the reign of French king Louis Philippe, and subsequently he served as first secretary to the Ottoman embassy in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In 1848 he became commissioner of the Danubian Principalities (Moldavia and Walachia), and from 1851 to 1855 he served as ambassador to Persia (now Iran). He was appointed minister of justice in 1857 and did much to reform legal procedure in the Ottoman Empire.