He graduated from the military academy in Constantinople and was sent to Vienna to continue his education (1836–1841).

He assumed the command of the fortress at Kars and won the Battle of Bayandir.

He was elected to the constitutional parliament in 1876 as a senator, though he retained his position in the army and dealt with several riots in Serbia in 1877.

Because of his success in dealing with these riots, he was appointed as the commander of a division of the Danube forces during the Russo-Turkish War.

After several command failures in this war, he was court martialed and exiled to the island of Rhodes, where he died.