Nageeb Arbeely

Nageeb Arbeely, (1861 - February 1904) was a Syrian-born naturalized-American, appointed by President Grover Cleveland to the post of Consul in Jerusalem in 1885.^[1] Though Arbeely was popular among the American Colony, he was deemed unacceptable by the Ottoman Empire and within a year was recalled from his position in Jerusalem.

Biography

Born in Damascus, Syria, to Professor Joseph A. Arbeely, Nageeb immigrated with his parents and siblings to the United States in 1878. The Arbeelys were the first Syrian family to seek refuge in the U.S,^[2] and as Christians they had been persecuted in the Ottoman Empire.^[3] They settled in Tennessee and after completing his studies at Maryville College, Arbeely was appointed there as a professor of French,^[4] where he also gave illustrated lectures on the Holy Land.

At the age of 24 Arbeely was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as consul to Jerusalem. Though the American Colonists were enthusiastic about his appointment, the Ottoman Empire deemed him unacceptable as a consul, claiming that as Arbeely had been born in Syria, then part of the Ottoman Empire, he could not also serve there as a representative of the United States.^[5] It was rumored corruption and bribery, stemming from Selah Merrill whom Arbeely had replaced as consul, were employed in removing Arbeely from his appointment. Arbeely was recalled within a year of his being appointed.

Upon his return to the United States, Arbeely served as an interpreter^[6] in the New York City barge office, and later as an inspector in the Bureau of Immigration at the Port of New York.^[7] Working with his brother, Dr. Abraham J. Arbeely, they established the first Arabic newspaper published in the United States, the Kawkab America (Star of America).^[8]

Arbeely later pursued a career in law and was admitted to the New York bar. He was also one of the founders of, and President of, the Syrian Society of New York.

In 1904, Arbeely died while in his law office. He was mourned at large among the Syrian community of New York. The funeral was held in the Greek Orthodox Church of Brooklyn.

References

1. "U.S. President Grover Cleveland Appoints a Consul at Jerusalem, Nageeb Arbeely, To Replace the Anti-Semitic Selah Merrill". Shapell Manuscript Collection. Shapell Manuscript Foundation.
2. "Nageeb J. Arbeely, 1904". Maryville Times. Genealogy.com.
3. "The First Syrians in America". Orthodoxhistory.org.
4. "Maryville College Catalog 1879-80". Internet Archive. Maryville College.
5. "Dreams and Diplomacy in the Holy Land". Slide 20. Shapell Manuscript Foundation.
6. Naff, Alixa (1985). Becoming American: The Early Arab Immigrant Experience. Southern Illinois University. p. 138. ISBN 0-8093-1896-2.
7. "Arab Immigrants to America Are Part of Ellis Island History". IIP Digital, US Embassy. U.S. Department of State.
8. "Another Daily Newspaper". The New York Times, July 8, 1898. The New York Times.

External links

• American Consuls in Jerusalem in the 19th Century