Gürcü Mehmed Şerif Efendi

Gürcü Mehmed Şerif Efendi, whose date of birth could not be determined, was one of the high-ranking figures of the 19th-century Ottoman ilmiye circle.

Gürcü Mehmed Şerif Efendi was among the most famous teachers of his time and was one of those who taught Şehzade Yûsuf İzzeddin Efendi, son of Sultan Abdülaziz.

His name also appears in the political crisis of 1876, within the context of madrasa student movements and debates over the Kanûn-ı Esâsî. He was among the scholars opposed to the Kanûn-ı Esâsî and, disguised in different clothing, joined the madrasa students who marched to the Bâbıâli shouting slogans against the Şeyhülislam and the Grand Vizier.

As a result of these actions, Gürcü Mehmed Şerif Efendi was sent into exile, but was later pardoned and returned to Istanbul.

His son Ahmed Cevdet Bey was among the members of the Meclis-i Tedkîkât-ı Şer‘iyye, and his granddaughter Fatma Bedriye Hanım, who died at the age of 12, was buried in the same cemetery as him.

Gürcü Mehmed Şerif Efendi died on 2 Sha‘ban 1308 (13 March 1891) and was buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.