Property, Entrepreneurship, Benefits and Corruption: Economic Portrait of A Hamidian Statesman Mehmed Memduh Pasha 

Mülkiyet, Girişimcilik, Menfaat ve Yolsuzluk: Abdülhamid Devri Devlet Adamı Mehmed Memduh Paşa’nın Ekonomik Portresi

Abstract

Mehmed Memduh Pasha (1839-1925) was an Ottoman statesman who held various positions in the central and provincial administration of the Ottoman Empire for over half a century. The last three decades of his long and impressive career coincided with the rule of Sultan Abdulhamid II and he became one of the key figures of the Hamidian bureaucracy. This article examines the economic dimensions of Mehmed Memduh Pasha's life and present a comprehensive analysis of his assets, investments, and contracts based on the Ottoman State Archives, particularly the Documents of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Yıldız Documents. This analysis reveals an aspect of Mehmed Memduh Pasha's biography, which that has been overshadowed by his political, administrative, and literary activities. By examining the case of Mehmed Memduh Pasha, the article presents a portrait of the intertwining of public service, private enterprise, and personal interests within the bureaucratic and economic context of the Ottoman Empire. His administrative responsibilities, and entrepreneurial endeavors during his tenure as governor not only illuminate Mehmed Memduh Pasha's multifaceted character and aspirations but also provide a comprehensive perspective on the economic challenges and opportunities that shaped the careers of bureaucrats in the provincial administrative framework.