Mustapha Mehemed Reshid Pasha, a Turkish statesman, born in Constantinople in 1802, died there, Jan. 7, 1858. He was educated by Ali Pasha, who had married his sister, and was governor of a province in Asia Minor. When Ali as grand vizier was sent to suppress the Greek insurrection in 1822, Reshid accompanied him; and in the campaign against the Russians in 1828-'9 he was private secretary to Selim Pasha. He took part in the negotiation of the treaty of Adrianople, and was sent on a diplomatic mission to Mehemet Ali, pasha of Egypt. In 1833 he assisted in negotiating the treaty of Kutaieh. In 1837 he became minister of foreign affairs, but held the post only for a year, going as special envoy to London and Paris. In 1839, after the reopening of the Egyptian war, he was recalled by Sultan Abdul-Medjid, who had succeeded Mah-moud II., to take charge again of the foreign ministry. He caused the promulgation of the hatti-sherif of Gulhane, raising the Christians to a civil equality with the Mussulmans, and brought about the quadruple alliance by which Egypt was compelled to evacuate the Turkish provinces.

In 1841 he was again envoy to England and France. He was made grand vizier in 1846, but lost his post six years later, and retired to private life, only to be recalled very soon to his high office, which he was compelled to resign in 1857 through an illness that shortly proved fatal. His influence was always exerted for the maintenance of peace. He discountenanced polygamy, and was distinguished for his literary and scientific attainments.