Ion Ghica was educated in Bucharest and in Western Europe, studying engineering and mathematics in Mine School of Paris (France) from 1837 to 1840.

While in Istanbul, he was appointed Bey (governor) of Samos (1854–1859), where he proved his leadership skills by extirpating local piracy[2] (most of which was aimed at transports supplying the Crimean War).

In 1859, after the union of Moldavia and Walachia had been effected, Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza asked Ion Ghica to return.

[5] Beside his political distinction, Ion Ghica earned a literary reputation by writing his Letters, addressed to Vasile Alecsandri, his lifelong friend.

He was the first to advocate the favoring of local initiatives over foreign investments in industry and commerce – to a certain extent, this took the form of protectionism[2] (a characteristic of the Liberal Party throughout the coming period, and until World War II).