Muhammad Ali is also the name of the former slave who took over Egypt in 1805 and ruled it until 1848. btw, he was born a Christian in the Balkans: when the Turks ruled the Balkans, they periodically drafted boys from Christian families into the Janissaries. See > http://www.bartleby.com/65/mu/MuhammdAl1.html for info on Muhammad Ali and his career. See > http://www.theottomans.org/english/campaigns_army/index_3.asp for info on the Janissaries. I don't recall exactly why Cassius Clay chose the name, Muhammad Ali, but it's likely he chose the one famous in Egypt. Muhammad Ali of Egypt was reknown for his military successes as well as for his reforms. Elizabeth Whitaker Alexandria, VA jmduke wrote: > Lyle > > I heard years ago that Cassius Clay took the name Muhammad Ali not > knowing that it was the name of an infamous black African slave seller. > Whether this is true or not I don't know. > > Maurice Duke ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html