The post of Grand Imam of al-Azhar, or shaykh of al-Azhar, has been filled by a member of the ulema, the religious scholars, of Egypt.
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar is the most prominent official religious role in Egypt.
[1][2] Prior to the establishment of the post under the Ottoman Empire, the holder of that position was named Mushrif then later a Nazir.
[3] Between 1860 and 1864 a board of scholars served the role as Grand Imam.
The original sources give the year based on the Islamic calendar, so the conversion to Gregorian years by later Western sources may not be precise.