Gamal Abdu L-Nasser was born in 1918. he was the son of a postman. He received most of his education from a Military Academy in 1938-39. Later he served as a Major in the war against Israel.

Nasser became known as the first real President of Egypt after he plotted against the all-pervasive British presence and removed King Faruk from the throne in 1952. After taking power in 1956, he ended the 72-year long British presence in Egypt by nationalizing the Suez Canal and other strategic British holding in the nation. He also instituted a new constitution that gave the presidency more power.

His political system was called the Arab socialism. In addition to the Suez Canal Company, he nationalized the central bank and other industries in order to finance construction of the Aswan dam project.

In 1958 Egypt and Syria joined together and formed the United Arab Republic, with Nasser being the head in an effort to create Arab unity. Its demise came in 1961 when Syria left, but the name remained as a symbol for his desire to have Arab unity. His ideas were outlined in 1959 in his book The Philosophy of the Revolution.

Nasser spent his life defending the Arab Nationalism, and the people's right to be free. He supported liberal movements against all types of occupation in the developing countries. Nasser was a founding-leader of the Nonaligned movement.

Along with India's Nehru and Indonesia's Sukarno, Nasser became a major international power-broker in the politics of the developing world.

After a massive attack from Israel, he closed the Suez Canal and offered to resign, as he could not withstand the attack. His people asked him to remain and he later became Prime Minister. On September 28, 1970, Nasser died of a heart attack, while in office.