Mehmed Refik Efendi

The life of Mehmed Refik Efendi began in Istanbul in 1848/49 (AH 1265); the father's occupation was "Matbûât-ı Âmire eski müdürü". At about 19, in 1868/69, Mehmed Refik began work in Istanbul, on a first salary of 500 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1868/69, places Mehmed Refik in Istanbul, the birthplace, as Bâb-ı Âli Tercüme Odası memuru, where the entries run to 1882/83. Alongside, the lists for 1881 to 1883 give a second post, in a post with no place named as Kirmanşah başşehbenderi. Alongside, the lists for 1882 to 1886 give a second post, in Bulgaristan as Bulgaristan Komisyonu Türkçe kâtibi. Alongside, the lists for 1885 to 1897 give a second post, in Varna as Varna tüccar vekili. Alongside, the lists for 1890/91 give a second post, in Ruse as Rusçuk tüccar vekili.

The salary went from 500 kuruş a month in 1868/69 to 3,000 in 1881/82, the peak, when 95 per cent of paid officials earned less. In all, 17 years of salary come to 414,000 kuruş, 5 times what an official on the median salary earned in those years. Over the years with a salary, pay stood on average in the top 9.3 per cent of each year's paid officials, a standing reached by fewer than 4 per cent of the 4,381 officials paid for five years or more. The final annual entry is for 1896/97.