Haydar Paşa

Mehmed Haydar Paşa was born in 1270 in the Hijri calendar, corresponding to 1853, and was a descendant of Emir Sultan. He was one of the early and important figures of the Ottoman veterinary organization. Trained as a military veterinarian, he entered the veterinary class within the Imperial Medical School in 1876 and graduated in 1880. After completing his internship at the Veterinary Surgery School in Beyoğlu Barracks, he was soon appointed veterinary inspector within the Şehremaneti, the Istanbul municipality.

Haydar Paşa’s professional life was especially marked by the struggle against rinderpest. During the outbreaks seen in and around Istanbul in the 1880s, he served in places such as Kağıthane, Çatalca, Geyve and İzmit, working in the field to diagnose the disease, quarantine infected areas and implement animal health measures. For his services in Çatalca he was promoted to the rank of major.

Haydar Paşa played an important role in the adoption of modern methods in the Ottoman animal health organization. He also served on the Veterinary Commission and contributed to the formation of the Animal Health Police Regulations.

After the Second Constitutional Period, Haydar Paşa was appointed chief veterinarian of the Hassa Army and, toward the end of 1909, served as army veterinary inspector.

He retired in 1910 after thirty years of service. One year after his retirement, in 1911, Haydar Paşa died and was buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.