Mehmed Reşid Efendi

Mehmed Reşid Efendi was born in Malatya in 1853/54 (AH 1270); the father was a merchant (tüccar). At about 22, in 1876/77, Mehmed Reşid began work in Plovdiv (Filibe), on a first salary of 500 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1876/77, places Mehmed Reşid in Plovdiv as Aşar Üçüncü Kâtibi, where the entries run to 1878. Alongside, the lists for 1878 to 1879 give a second post, in Istanbul as Kuleli Hastahanesi Kâtibi. Next came Aydın from 1879 to 1883. Alongside, the lists for 1882/83 give a second post, in Izmir as Bidayet Mahkemesi İcra Memuru. Mehmed Reşid then moved to Buldan and Istanbul from 1885 to 1889, then Sivas from 1889 to 1899. For 1886 to 1888 the lists have no entry. Alongside, the lists for 1898 to 1910 give a second post, in Istanbul as Şehremaneti Evrak Müdür Muavini. The lists have no entry for 1902 to 1909. Six places on two continents in all, a number reached by fewer than 8 per cent of the 6,605 officials with a place of service.

The salary went from 500 kuruş a month in 1876/77 to 1,150 in 1900/01, the peak, in Istanbul, when 86 per cent of paid officials earned less. The final annual entry is for 1909/10.