Ismail Selim was born Emmanouil (Greek: Εμμανουήλ Παπαδάκης) around 1809 in the Psychro village, located at the Lasithi Plateau on the island of Crete.

Selim rose quickly to the rank of Ferik (major general) and was appointed the Minister of Military Affairs of the state of Egypt.

Ismail Selim Pasha gifted a yacht called Feyz-i Cihat belonging to the Egyptian Khedivate to the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz in 1862.

By a coincidence of fate, Cretan revolutionaries were receiving supplies[1] and financial support from Selim's brother Antonios who lived in Athens.

His body was transferred to Egypt and buried in Cairo with high honors, whereas a cenotaph dedicated to him was erected in Heraklion and stood until 1925.