Official
Mehmet Ali Efendi
Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1846/47 (AH 1263). On record 1867 to 1907, 40 annual entries.
Archive reference 8_95; 185
Life#
Mehmet Ali Efendi was born in Istanbul in 1846/47 (AH 1263) into the Muslim (Müslüman) community; the father was a chief clerk (başkatip). Schooling took four years, at a school for young children (Sıbyan Mektebi).
At about 19, in 1866/67, Mehmet Ali began work in Beirut (Beyrut), with one unpaid year as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 400 kuruş. The annual lists begin in 1867/68, with Mehmet Ali as a communications official (Muhabere Memuru) in Damascus (Şam). Next came eight places in 12 years, with a rise to director of the second grade (2. Müdür) in 1872/73. From 1880 to 1907 the annual entries place Mehmet Ali in Istanbul, the birthplace. Ten places on two continents in all, a number reached by fewer than 4 per cent of the 5,200 officials with a place of service. Entries spanning 41 years are rare, reached by fewer than 3 per cent of the 5,211 officials.
The salary went from 400 kuruş a month in 1867/68 to 800 in 1873/74, the peak, as 2. Müdür in Kilis, when 70 per cent of paid officials earned less. That salary was paid for a single year, and the next list gives 600 kuruş. In all, 40 years of salary come to 229,380 kuruş, about what an official on the median salary earned in those years. The last annual entry is for 1906/07.
Places in order of time#
Each number is a stop: the birthplace, the place of first work, then every place of the annual entries in turn. The year beside an arrow is the first entry at the new place.
Born 1846/47 (AH 1263)
First work 1866/67 (AH 1283)
1878 to 1879 (AH 1295 to 1296)
Muhabere Memuru 1878 (AH 1295); 3. Müdür 1878/79 (AH 1296)
400 to 600 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
1880 to 1907 (AH 1298 to 1324)
No annual entry for 1879/80 (AH 1297) before it.
200 to 670 kuruş a month; entries in 27 years
Career and salary#
Log scale: equal steps are equal ratios. The median of the same title is drawn for the years in which at least 5 officials with that title had a salary.
The numbers of the chart
| Year | Salary | Median, all officials | Median, same title | Paid less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1867/68 | 400 | 600 | 480 | 17% |
| 1868/69 | 400 | 600 | 480 | 17% |
| 1869/70 | 400 | 600 | 400 | 18% |
| 1870/71 | 600 | 600 | 400 | 49% |
| 1871/72 | 600 | 550 | 400 | 56% |
| 1872/73 | 760 | 550 | 850 | 64% |
| 1873/74 | 800 | 500 | 830 | 70% |
| 1874/75 | 600 | 535 | 600 | 55% |
| 1875/76 | 600 | 530 | 600 | 54% |
| 1876/77 | 400 | 582.5 | 410 | 17% |
| 1877/78 | 400 | 560 | 410 | 16% |
| 1878 | 400 | 600 | 500 | 17% |
| 1878/79 | 600 | 600 | 600 | 47% |
| 1880/81 | 200 | 500 | 380 | 5% |
| 1881/82 | 285 | 500 | 385 | 10% |
| 1882/83 | 285 | 500 | 437.5 | 8% |
| 1883/84 | 285 | 500 | 400 | 9% |
| 1884/85 | 285 | 500 | 400 | 9% |
| 1885/86 | 285 | 500 | 437.5 | 9% |
| 1886/87 | 285 | 500 | 475 | 9% |
| 1887/88 | 335 | 500 | 477.5 | 17% |
| 1888/89 | 375 | 500 | 500 | 21% |
| 1889/90 | 375 | 500 | 525 | 21% |
| 1890/91 | 375 | 500 | 525 | 22% |
| 1891/92 | 420 | 500 | 590 | 40% |
| 1892/93 | 440 | 500 | 580 | 41% |
| 1893/94 | 465 | 500 | 476.5 | 44% |
| 1894/95 | 490 | 500 | 450 | 46% |
| 1895/96 | 490 | 500 | 400 | 46% |
| 1896/97 | 490 | 500 | 425 | 48% |
| 1897/98 | 500 | 500 | 430 | 49% |
| 1898/99 | 525 | 500 | 440 | 61% |
| 1899/1900 | 525 | 500 | 440 | 60% |
| 1900/01 | 525 | 500 | 452.5 | 59% |
| 1901/02 | 625 | 500 | 445 | 71% |
| 1902/03 | 650 | 500 | 470 | 73% |
| 1903/04 | 650 | 475 | 490 | 73% |
| 1904/05 | 650 | 450 | 500 | 73% |
| 1905/06 | 670 | 475 | 507.5 | 72% |
| 1906/07 | 670 | 450 | 550 | 71% |
Paid less: the share of the other officials with a salary that year who earned less.
Point at a year for its salary, title, place and the median of all officials paid that year. Choose a row of the table to mark its years in the charts and its stop on the map.
| Years | Title | Place | Salary (kuruş a month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1866/67AH 1283 | First work | Beirut (Beyrut) | 400first-salary field |
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhabere Memuru | Damascus (Şam) | 400 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Muhabere Memuru | Muzayrib (Müzeyrib) | 400 |
| 1869/70AH 1286 | Muhabere Memuru | Karaman | 400 |
| 1870 to 1872AH 1287 to 1288 | Muhabere Memuru | Aleppo (Halep) | 600 |
| 1872 to 1874AH 1289 to 1290 | 2. Müdür | Kilis | 760 to 800 |
| 1874 to 1876AH 1291 to 1292 | 3. Müdür | Zeytinburnu | 600 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhabere Memuru | Aksaray | 400 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Erenköy | 400 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhabere Memuru | Rami kislasi | 400 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | 3. Müdür | Rami kislasi | 600 |
| No annual entry: 1879/80 (AH 1297) | |||
| 1880 to 1907AH 1298 to 1324 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 200 to 670 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1846/47 (AH 1263)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Nationality as recorded
- Turkish
- Father's occupation
- Baskatip
Education
- Primary
- Sıbyan Mektebi (4 years)school for young children (primary school)
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 1 year
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Low
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- NoShown as in the flag of the paper. The qualification column of the recovered extract gives yes.
The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.
Languages
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1866/67 (AH 1283)
- Place
- Beirut (Beyrut)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 400
Recorded with#
Officials who share a place, a job title, a school, a birthplace or the year of the first annual entry. Ranks compare the highest monthly salary of each official.
Same place, same years
Of the 1,405 officials with entries in Istanbul in the same years, Mehmet Ali Efendi had the 437th highest salary.
- Suleyman Resat Bey27 shared years; highest salary 7,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Hayri Bey27 shared years; highest salary 5,500 kuruş
- Melkok Efendi27 shared years; highest salary 5,000 kuruş
- Unnamed official (0007_0144; 285)27 shared years; highest salary 2,750 kuruş
- Salih Tevfik Efendi27 shared years; highest salary 2,600 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 76 officials with the title Sevk Kalemi in the same years, Mehmet Ali Efendi had the 14th highest salary.
- Mehmet Reşit Efendi27 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Abdullah Efendi27 shared years; highest salary 500 kuruş
- Hasan Tahsin Efendi27 shared years; highest salary 480 kuruş
- Mehmet Cemal Efendi22 shared years; highest salary 750 kuruş
- Mustafa Hakkı Bey22 shared years; highest salary 650 kuruş
Same school
Of the 746 officials with Sıbyan Mektebi among their schools, 745 have a recorded salary; Mehmet Ali Efendi had the 269th highest salary of them.
- Ahmed Muhtar Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Ahmet Faik Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,170 kuruş
- Ahmet Hamdi Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 500 kuruş
- Ahmet Şevki Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 600 kuruş
- Ahmet Tevfik Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 500 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Mehmet Ali Efendi had the 503rd highest salary of them.
- Ahmet Faik Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,170 kuruş
- Ahmet Hamdi Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Ahmet Reşid Beyborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Avadis Şalcıyan Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Cemal Efendiborn 1846/47 (AH 1263); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 73 officials whose first annual entry is for 1867/68 (AH 1284), Mehmet Ali Efendi had the 37th highest salary.
- Ahmet Şevki Efendifirst entry in Mosul (Musul); highest salary 600 kuruş
- John Vitali Efendifirst entry in Volos (Golos); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Osman Nuri Efendifirst entry in Serres (Siroz); highest salary 800 kuruş
- Unnamed official (0049_0034; 65)first entry in Thessaloniki (Selanik); highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Mehmet İzzet Efendifirst entry in Kifri (Salahiye); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (40)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhabere Memuru | Damascus (Şam) | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Muhabere Memuru | Muzayrib (Müzeyrib) | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1869/70AH 1286 | Muhabere Memuru | Karaman | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Muhabere Memuru | Aleppo (Halep) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Muhabere Memuru | Aleppo (Halep) | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | 2. Müdür | Kilis | 760 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | 2. Müdür | Kilis | 800 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | 3. Müdür | Zeytinburnu | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | 3. Müdür | Zeytinburnu | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhabere Memuru | Aksaray | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | Muhabere Memuru | Erenköy | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1878AH 1295 | Muhabere Memuru | Rami kislasi | 400 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | 3. Müdür | Rami kislasi | 600 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 285 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 285 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 285 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 285 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 285 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 285 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 335 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 375 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 375 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 375 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 420 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 440 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 465 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 490 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 490 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 490 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 525 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 525 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 525 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1901/02AH 1319 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 625 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1902/03AH 1320 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 650 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1903/04AH 1321 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 650 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1904/05AH 1322 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 650 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1905/06AH 1323 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 670 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
| 1906/07AH 1324 | Sevk Kalemi | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 670 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 8_95; 185 |
What the sources named in this table are
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
Sources and original values (14)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Mehmet Ali Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1263 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Father's occupation | Baskatip | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Religion | Musluman | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Nationality or community | Turkish | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Schooling | ||
| School | Sibyan mektebi | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 4 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 1 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1283 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1866 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | beyrut | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 400 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
What the sources named in this table are
- Earlier annual personnel extract
- The detailed annual personnel file of October 2024. An official found only in this file keeps the years, titles and salaries it gives.
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
- Personnel attributes extract
- The detailed personnel file of September 2025, read for personal details such as birth, schooling and first work.
- Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
- 36 annual entries of 40 belong to the saved estimation sample of the paper.
How to read this record: calendar years, years without an annual entry, salaries and sources.
Subjects
- Mehmet Ali Efendi
- Dispatch office (Sevk Kalemi)
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- School for young children (Sıbyan Mektebi)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Muslim (Müslüman)
- Communications official (Muhabere Memuru)
- Biography of an Ottoman official (Osmanlı memurunun biyografisi)
- Career and pay (memuriyet ve maaş)
- Ottoman history (Osmanlı tarihi)
- Ottoman bureaucracy (Osmanlı bürokrasisi)
- Ottoman officials (Osmanlı'da memurlar)
- Ottoman personnel registers (Sicill-i Ahvâl defterleri)
- Ottoman registers (Osmanlı defterleri)