Mehmet Besim Efendi

Mehmet Besim Efendi was born in Istanbul in 1862/63 (AH 1279). The record gives the community as Muslim (Müslüman), the nationality as Turkish and the father's occupation as Kaymakam.

Schooling recorded: Rüşdiye Mektebi, with 7 years of schooling recorded, at a place worded Prizren. The record marks a qualification: a diploma, certificate, training or decoration (nişan). Languages recorded, with the skill words of the record: Turkish, with Kitabet.

First work is recorded in Prizren in 1875/76 (AH 1292): Tahrirat Kalemi. The official was then about 13 years old. The record gives 2 years of unpaid apprenticeship (mülazemet) before the first salary. The first-salary field gives 500 kuruş a month. At the first annual entry, in 1877/78, the official was about 15 years old.

The first annual entry, for 1877/78, shows Aşar Memuru in Prizren, with 500 kuruş a month. In 1880/81 the record shows Evrak Kalemi in Prizren, the salary going from 500 to 200 kuruş a month (before: Aşar Memuru in Prizren). In 1882/83 the record shows Rusumat Baskitabeti in Yemen, the salary going from 200 to 1,200 kuruş a month (before: Evrak Kalemi in Prizren). In 1883/84 the record shows Rusumat Tahrirat Kalemi in Trabzon, the salary going from 1,200 to 750 kuruş a month (before: Rusumat Baskitabeti in Yemen). In 1889/90 the record shows Mümeyyiz in Trabzon, with 800 kuruş a month (before: Rusumat Tahrirat Kalemi in Trabzon). In 1894/95 the record shows Rusumat Kalem Muduru in Trabzon, with 1,600 kuruş a month (before: Mümeyyiz in Trabzon). In 1907/08 the record shows Rusumat Meclis Azasi in Istanbul, the salary going from 2,900 to 5,000 kuruş a month (before: Rusumat Kalem Muduru in Trabzon). In 1910/11 the record shows Başmüdür in Yemen, the salary going from 4,000 to 5,000 kuruş a month (before: Rusumat Meclis Azasi in Istanbul). In 1911 the record shows Başmüdür in Trabzon, the salary going from 5,000 to 4,000 kuruş a month (before: Başmüdür in Yemen). No annual entry is recorded for 1878 to 1880.

The highest salary, 5,000 kuruş a month, is first recorded in 1907/08 as Rusumat Meclis Azasi. 99 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less. The median salary of all officials that year was 300 kuruş. Over 33 years with a salary the median is 1,890 kuruş a month, with 13 rises and 5 cuts. The largest rise, 2,100 kuruş, is seen in 1907/08. From the first salary to the last the salary grew by 6.12 per cent a year on average. The last salary is recorded in 1911, when 95 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less.

Honours recorded in the cross-ministry workbook: Rank (recorded code): 2, 1; Mecidi order (recorded code): 2, 4; Osmani order (recorded code): 3. Written works, as worded in the record: "Baslica telifati yoksa da Hazine-i Evrak ile Mecmua-i Ebû Ziya ve Resail-i Edebiyye'de bazi asari matbu ve mundericdir".