Mehmed Feridun Bey

Mehmed Feridun Bey was born in Istanbul in 1846/47 (AH 1263); the father's occupation was "Eski teşrifat-ı umumiye nazırı". Work began in Istanbul in 1863/64, at about 16, on a first salary of 0 kuruş. The annual lists begin in 1863/64, with Mehmed Feridun as Sergi-i Osmanî idaresi görevlisi in Istanbul, the birthplace, where the entries run to 1865/66. Mehmed Feridun then moved to Paris, Istanbul and Peste from 1872 to 1886. Alongside, the lists for 1885 to 1888 give a second post, in Pazar as Atina sefiri. Alongside, the lists for 1889 to 1893 give a second post, in Belgrade as Belgrad sefiri. The last entry, for 1894/95, names Mehmed Feridun as Madrid sefiri, with no place. The farthest post, Paris, lay about 2,250 km from Istanbul, and fewer than 3 per cent of the 5,339 officials with a known birthplace and place of service served as far from the birthplace.

The salary went from 0 kuruş a month in 1863/64 to 20,000 in 1885/86, the peak, in Pazar, when 99 per cent of paid officials earned less. Over 25 years the salaries add up to 1,950,000 kuruş, 15.7 times what an official on the median salary earned, a level reached by fewer than 2 per cent of the 4,381 officials paid for five years or more. The last annual entry is for 1894/95.