Lord Alfred Milner (1854-1925) was a British statesman, leading imperialist, and colonial administrator. Of British and German ancestry, he was born on March 23, 1854 in Hesse-Darmstadt in Germany. Later, he became a student at Oxford where he was elected a fellow of New College in 1872. Following his education, he attempted a career in law, and then moved to journalism.Milner played a significant role in Egyptian politics during one of its most crucial political struggles in modern history. In 1887 he was appointed secretary to George Goschen, chancellor of the exchequer. From 1890 to 1892 he served as undersecretary of finance in Egypt. His England in Egypt (1892) effectively argued for greater British involvement there. In 1897, Milner was appointed to other governmental posts outside of Egypt, especially South Africa, to return in 1920 heading a commission to Egypt that recommended Egyptian independence. When his recommendation that Egypt be granted a form of independence was rejected by the British Cabinet, he resigned in 1921. He was created viscount in 1902.