Born on April 6, 1849, Syed Ameer Ali was the youngest son of Saadat Ali Khan. On the advice of some British officers, Saadat Ali khan educated his son at Hoogly College. Syed Ameer Ali learned Arabic, Persian, Arab philosophy and history directly from his father. In 1867, he completed his graduation and became one of the first Muslim graduates in India. He passed M A History and Law in 1868 and went to England for his higher studies, with a government scholarship.
In 1873, Ameer Ali returned to India and started his legal practice at Calcutta High court. In the following year, he was elected as a Fellow of Calcutta College and also appointed as a lecturer in Islamic Law at the Presidency College. He was associated with the Central National Muhammadan Association for 25 years and worked for the political advancement of the Muslims. He was also appointed as a member of the Bengal legislative council in 1878.
In the year 1881, Ameer Ali became a professor of Law in Calcutta University. He was made a Judge in the Calcutta High court in 1890. He established an independent body, London Muslim League, in 1908. He was the first Indian to sit as a Law Lord of the Privy Council. He had an important role in securing separate electorates for the Muslims in South Asia to promote the cause of the Khilafat Movement. He was a very good writer and wrote a number of books in Islam and Islamic history. 'A Short History of the Saracens,' 'Spirit of Islam' and 'Muhammadan Law' are his significant works.
Syed Ameer Ali died in Sussex on August 4, 1928.
