MEHMED RAKIM EFENDİ

The life of MEHMED RAKIM EFENDİ began in Varna in 1857/58 (AH 1274). Work began in Varna in 1870/71, at about 13. Of the 5,664 officials whose age at first work is known, fewer than 5 per cent started at 13 or younger. The annual lists begin in 1870/71, with MEHMED RAKIM as Varna Sancağı Tahrirat Kalemi mülazımı in Varna, the birthplace, where the entries run to 1878. For 1871 to 1878 and 1878 to 1883 the lists have no entry. MEHMED RAKIM then moved to Istanbul from 1883 to 1911. The lists have no entry for 1884 to 1889. Alongside, the lists for 1902 to 1911 give a second post, in a post with no place named as Mekteb-i Mülkiye ilm-i şurût muallimi. The lists give Infisal for 1897/98 instead of a title.

The salary went from 1,000 kuruş a month in 1883/84 to 5,000 in 1909/10, the peak, in Istanbul, when 96 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 24 years of salary come to 627,420 kuruş, 5.1 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years, a level reached by fewer than 5 per cent of the 4,381 officials paid for five years or more. The last annual entry is for 1911.