Jamil al-Midfai

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Jamil al-Midfai

14th, 16th, 19th, 24th & 39th Prime Minister of Iraq
In office
November 9, 1933 – August 27, 1934
March 4, 1935March 17, 1935
August 17, 1937December 25, 1938
June 4, 1941October 10, 1941
January 29, 1953September 17, 1953
Monarch Ghazi
Faisal II
Preceded by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani (twice)
Ali Jawdat al-Aiyubi
Hikmat Sulayman
Nureddin Mahmud
Succeeded by Ali Jawdat al-Aiyubi
Yasin al-Hashimi
Nuri as-Said (twice)
Muhammad Fadhel al-Jamali

Born 1890
Mosul, Iraq
Died 1958

Jamil al-Midfai (جميل المدفعي)‎ (18901958) was an Iraqi politician. He served as that country's prime minister on five separate occasions:

  1. November 9, 1933August 25, 1934
  2. March 1, 1935March 16, 1935
  3. August 17, 1937December 26, 1938
  4. June 2, 1941October 10, 1941
  5. January 29, 1953September 1, 1953

Born in the town of Mosul, Midfai served in the Ottoman army during World War I, but deserted in 1916 to take part in the nationalist Arab Revolt. After the war, he was an aide to the Emir Faisal during his brief reign in Syria. He returned to Iraq in 1920, but was soon forced into exile in Jordan because of his anti-UK nationalist activities. Upon his return in 1923, he served in various senior provincial capacities and finally joined the cabinet in 1930.

As a seasoned politician and two-time prime minister, he was asked to form a new government in August 1937, following the assassination of General Bakr Sidqi, who had ruled the country as military dictator for almost a year. A staunch monarchist, Midfai was again forced into exile in Transjordan following the short-lived pro-Axis coup by Rashid Ali al-Kaylani in 1941. Upon his return, he served in various senior capacities including President of the Senate and briefly as prime minister. He died in office while serving as President of the Senate.

Political offices
Preceded by
Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
Prime Minister of Iraq
November 9, 1933August 25, 1934
Succeeded by
Ali Jawdat al-Aiyubi
Preceded by
Ali Jawdat al-Aiyubi
Prime Minister of Iraq
March 1, 1935March 16, 1935
Succeeded by
Yasin al-Hashimi
Preceded by
Hikmat Sulayman
Prime Minister of Iraq
August 17, 1937December 26, 1938
Succeeded by
Nuri as-Said
Preceded by
Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
Prime Minister of Iraq
June 2, 1941October 10, 1941
Succeeded by
Nuri as-Said
Preceded by
Nureddin Mahmud
Prime Minister of Iraq
January 29, 1953September 1, 1953
Succeeded by
Muhammad Fadhel al-Jamali
Languages