Al-Hashimi, Hussein ibn Talal
(b. Amman, Jordan, 14 Nov. 1935; d. 7 Feb. 1999) Jordanian; King 1953–99 Great-grandson of Sharif Hussein of Mecca and grandson of King Abdullah, whose assassination in Jerusalem he witnessed in 1951, Hussein's father, Talal, abdicated in his favour in 1952. Hussein was enthroned in 1953. He had been educated in Britain at Harrow School and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
Hussein asserted his independence of British political influence by refusing to join the anti-Soviet Baghdad Pact in 1955, whilst remaining a stalwart anti-Communist; dismissing the British commander of the Arab Legion and power behind the throne in 1956; preventing ...