 In October 1891 , upon the formation of the first constitutional government in Zanzibar , Mathews was appointed First Minister , despite some hostility from Sultan Ali bin Said . In this capacity Mathews was " irremovable by the sultan " and answerable only to the Sultan and the British Consul . His position was so strong that one missionary on the island is quoted as saying that his powers defied " analytical examination " and that Mathews really could say " L 'état est moi " ( I am the state ) . Mathews was also known as the " Strong man of Zanzibar " . The principal departments of government were mostly run by Britons or British Indians and Mathews ' approval was required before they could be removed from office . Mathews was rewarded by the Zanzibar government for his role with his appointment as a first class member of the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar , which he was granted licence by Queen Victoria to accept and wear on 17 May 1886 . Mathews used his position to suppress slavery in the country and in 1889 convinced the Sultan to issue a decree purchasing the freedom of all slaves who had taken refuge in his dominions and , from 1890 , the prohibiting the slave trade . On 1 February 1891 Mathews was appointed Her Majesty 's Commissioner and Consul @-@ General to the British Sphere of Influence in East Africa . He never took up the post and instead chose to remain in Zanzibar . 
 In October 1891 , upon the formation of the first constitutional government in Zanzibar , Mathews was appointed First Minister , despite some hostility from Sultan Ali bin Said . In this capacity Mathews was " irremovable by the sultan " and answerable only to the Sultan and the British Consul . His position was so strong that one missionary on the island is quoted as saying that his powers defied " analytical examination " and that Mathews really could say " L 'état est moi " ( I am the state ) . Mathews was also known as the " Strong man of Zanzibar " . The principal departments of government <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> mostly run by Britons or British Indians and Mathews <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'</mark></a>approval was required before they could be removed from office . Mathews was rewarded by the Zanzibar government for his role with his appointment as a first class member of the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar , which he was granted licence by Queen Victoria to accept and wear on 17 May 1886 . Mathews used his position to suppress slavery in the country and in 1889 convinced the Sultan to issue a decree purchasing the freedom of all slaves <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> taken refuge in his dominions and , from 1890 , the prohibiting the slave trade . On 1 February 1891 Mathews was appointed Her Majesty <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>Commissioner and Consul @-@ General to the British Sphere of Influence in East Africa . He never took up <a href='None' title='6'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>post</mark></a> and instead chose to remain in Zanzibar . 
In October 1891 , upon the formation of the first constitutional government in Zanzibar , Mathews was appointed First Minister , despite sum hostility from Sultan Ali bin Said . In this capacity Mathews was " irremovable by the sultan " and answerable only to da Sultan and tdaBritish Consul . His position was so strong dat one missionary on thdasland is quoted as saying that his powers defied " analytical examination " and that Mathews really could say " L 'état est moi " ( I am thedaate ) . Mathews was also known as the datrong man of Zanzibar " . The pdacipal departments of government was mostly run by Britons or British Indians and Mathews  approval was required before they could b removed from office . Mathews was rewarded by the Zanzibar government fa his role with his appointment as a first class member of the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar , which he was granted licence by Queen Victoria to accept and wear on 17 May 1886 . Mathews used his position to suppress slavery in the country and in 1889 convinced the Sultan to issue a decree purchasing the freedom of all slaves done taken refuge in his dominions and , from 1890 , the prdabiting the slave trade . On 1 February 1891 Mathews was appointed Her Majesty  Commissioner and Consul @-@ General to the Bridah Sphere of Influence in East Africa . He never took up no post and instead chose to remain in Zanzibar .