Abdel-Nasser Hussein

Father of Gamal Abdel-Nasser

Abdel-Nasser Hussein learned the Holy Quran by rote at the Quranic School (Kuttab) of the village of Beni Murr. On 18 February 1904, he moved to Alexandria with his uncle, Mohammad Etman, where he joined the elementary school. The year after, following the death of his mother, he joined the American Mission School in Assiut whereby he used to travel daily from Beni Mur to Assiut. His teacher, the American priest, Chaplain Blyth, helped him improve his English.

By early October 1907, Abdel-Nasser Hussein moved to the Coptic School in Assiut. He had to work during the summer vacation to cover his living expenses while pursuing his studies. In 1908, he received his elementary school diploma and joined the Postal Service in Alexandria. On 15 February 1917, he married Fahima Hamad and had his first son, Gamal, on 15 January 1918. Tragically though, his wife passed away on 21 April 1926, leaving four children behind: eight-year old Gamal, the eldest; Izz al-Arab, al-Leithi, and Shawky, a one-day old infant. Five years later, on 3 May 1931, Abdel Nasser Hussein married Enayat Sakr and had six children: Moustafa, Hussein, Rafik, Adel, Tarek, and Aida.