Boutros-Ghali, Boutros << BOO trohs GAH lih, BOO trohs >> (1922-2016), a diplomat from Egypt, was secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) from 1992 through 1996. He replaced Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru, who had held the office from 1982 to 1991. Boutros-Ghali became the sixth secretary-general of the UN and the first from Africa to hold the post.
Boutros-Ghali was born on Nov. 14, 1922, in Cairo. He received a law degree from Cairo University in 1946 and a Ph.D. in international law from the University of Paris in 1949. He was a professor of international law and international relations at Cairo University from 1949 to 1977.
Boutros-Ghali’s career as a government official and diplomat began in 1977, when he was appointed Egypt’s minister of state for foreign affairs. He became deputy prime minister for foreign affairs in 1991. In these posts, Boutros-Ghali led Egyptian delegations to many international conferences and meetings, including those of the UN General Assembly. Boutros-Ghali wrote many books on political science and international affairs. He died on Feb. 16, 2016, in Cairo.
