| Muhammad al-Muqri | |
 | |
| Birth: | 1844? Morocco |
| Death: | 9 September 1957 Morocco |
| Age: | 112 years, 259+ days? |
| Country: |  MAR
|
| Disputed | |
Haj Muhammad Ben Abdessalam al-Muqri (Arabic: الحاج محمد بن عبد السلام المقري) (2 February 1854 - 9 September 1957) was a Moroccan politician who claimed to be 112 or 116 years old. His full date of birth is unknown. He claimed to be the oldest person ever from Morocco.
The Britannica Book of the Year dates his birth to February of 1841 (however, it erroneously states he died a week later than he actually did). The majority of sources state he was born in 1851 or 1854, including those who met him in person. Thus, based on the fact most sources date his birth to that year, it is most likely to be correct, and his age at death was 103/106 years, 201-228 days.
Biography[]
Muhammad al-Muqri was born in Oujda, Morocco on 2 February 1854 (claimed 1841) to Abdesallam al-Moqri (1830–1903), who held the position of Lamin of Moulay Hafid, and a Fassi woman from the Zghari family. He began his career in government during the reign of Muhammad IV of Morocco, the father of Hassan I of Morocco. During this period of time, al-Muqri is alleged to have attended the opening of the Suez Canal where he met with Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie in 1869. After the death of Hassan I, sultan, Abd al-Aziz seized the throne. In recognition of his efforts to resolve the Moroccan Crisis leading up to the international conference, Abd al-Aziz appointed al-Muqri as his Minister of Finance and in 1908, his Sadr A'atham (صدر أعظم) or Grand Vizier, a post he would hold on and off under each of the succeeding sultans for 44 years until 1955 when he left politics.
In 1909, the new sultan Abd Al-Hafid demoted him to the post of Minister of Finance but promoted him again to Grand Vizier in 1911. Al-Muqri resigned the post two years later, but was reappointed to it by Sultan Yusef, and was kept in the position by his successor, Sultan Muhammad ben Youssef, when he ascended the throne in 1927. In 1953, when Muhammad ben Youssef was deposed by the French for nationalist agitation and replaced by his uncle, the French puppet monarch Muhammad Ben Arafa, the colonial authorities decided to keep al-Muqri in his position. Once independence was promised, Ben Arafa abdicated, and al-Muqri was chosen by colonial authorities to head the Regency, among other dignitaries such as Pacha Fatmi Benslimane, until the exiled Sultan Muhammad could return to the country and assume the throne.
Muhammad al-Muqri married three women (one Algerian and two Moroccan) with whom he had five sons and a daughter, all born during 1890–1900.
Muhammad al-Muqri died in Rabat, Morocco on 9 September 1957 at the age of 103 years and 228 days. After his death his residence in Rabat (known as Dar el Mokri) became an infamous location of detention and torture in the 1950s, 60s and up to the 1970s, during what was termed as the Years of Lead.
It is claimed that al-Muqri died at the reputed age of 112, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, or even of 116, according to other sources. Both figures are doubtful. There are no birth records or other evidence for these claims. It is rare to attain such an age and unheard of to be head of government at 110 or 114. John Gunther's book Inside Africa (published 1955) says he was born in 1851: other sources list his birth year as 1854. Vermeren gives 1860. The Britannica Book of the Year gives his birthdate as February 1841.
References[]
- Encyclopedia Britannica, Morocco: the French protectorate, 1912-1956
- Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year 1957
- "El Hadj Mohammed El Mokri Is Dead; Ex-Grand Vizier of French Morocco; Was a Centenarian"