Mustafa Lebib Efendi

Born in Istanbul in 1838, Mustafa Lebib Efendi was the son of Mustafa Efendizâde Mehmed Behçet Efendi, the postnişin of Okmeydanı. After studying with his father and private teachers, he entered government service in 1852 in the Record Office of the Meclis-i Vâlâ, the high council associated with the later Court of Cassation and Council of State.

Mustafa Lebib Efendi served as kapukethüdası, or representative agent, for Maraş and Ankara, and rose in the state and judicial administration through posts such as assistant chief clerk of the Meclis-i Hazâin, president of the Divan-ı Hesabat, member of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal, and clerk of the Mabeyn.

After the proclamation of the First Constitutional Period, he was appointed to the Chamber of Notables on 17 March 1877. During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II, he also served briefly as Chief Clerk of the Mabeyn.

Mustafa Lebib Efendi’s name is also associated with the Yıldız Court proceedings in which Midhat Paşa and his companions were tried. He chaired the delegation sent to Manisa and İzmir to question Grand Vizier Mütercim Rüşdü Paşa.

Mustafa Lebib Efendi died in Shawwal 1317, corresponding to 17 February 1900, while serving as Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation, and was buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.