GHICA, ION

born 1816, Bucharest died May 4, 1897, Ghergani, Rom. member of a great Romanian princely family, prominent man of letters, and prime minister of Romania (1866, 187071). Descended from the Walachian prince Grigore III Ghica, Ion Ghica joined the opposition to the rule of his cousin Alexandru II Ghica, prince of Walachia from 1834, that resulted in Alexandru's deposition in October 1842. Ghica figured prominently in the revolutionary activity of 1848 and was subsequently forced into exile. Named prince of Samos by the Turkish government in 1854, he headed the administration of the island until 1859. After his return to Romania in 1866 he joined the secret committee that secured the overthrow of the first prince of united Romania, Alexandru Cuza, and his replacement by Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, thereafter Carol I (prince, 186681; subsequently king). Twice prime minister in 1866, Ghica, during his second administration, won the agreement of the Sultan to Carol's accession. He served again as prime minister in 187071 and was subsequently Romanian minister in London (188087). Among his works, Scrisori catre V. Alecsandri (Letters to V. Alecsandri) is best known.