Sheikh Jaber bin Abdullah (Arabic: جابر بن عبد الله; Jaber I or Jaber Al-Aish; 1775 – 1859) was the third ruler of the Sheikdom of Kuwait. He governed from 1814 to 1859. He was the eldest son of Abdullah bin Sabah whom he succeeded upon Sheikh Abdullah's death.

Reign

Jaber's foreign policy was more closely aligned with the Ottoman Empire and opposed to the British. He assisted the Ottoman government in fighting against the Banu Ka'b for control of Basra and Khorramshahr, and rebuffed British attempts to make Kuwait a British protectorate. In 1822, he negotiated an agreement with Ibrahim Pasha that allowed Egyptian ships and caravans to pass through Kuwaiti territory. He sheltered political refugees during his reign, most notably Khalid bin Saud Al Saud from Najd, who fled from his cousin Abdullah bin Thunayan Al Saud.^[1]

In 1841, he signed a treaty with the British. The treaty focused on freedom of navigation and opposition to the slave trade.^[1]

Legacy

He was succeeded by his eldest son Sabah II Al-Sabah.^[1]

Jaber I Al-Sabah's children were:

• Sheikh Sabah (the fourth ruler of Kuwait)
• Sheikh Khalifa
• Sheikha Bazza
• Sheikh Salman
• Sheikh Daij
• Sheikh Mujran
• Sheikh Mubarak
• Sheikh Ali
• Sheikh Mohammed
• Sheikh Hammoud
• Sheikh Jarrah
• Sheikh Shamlan
• Sheikh Abdullah

References