The son of the distinguished Ottoman statesman Mehmed Namık Pasha, who was the Governor of Baghdad where Hasan Riza was born.

He was of Turkish origin, as Mehmed Namık's grandfather migrated from Konya to Constantinople.

[1] He was the main commander during the Siege of Shkodër and became the symbol of resistance against the Serbian and Montenegrin invasion.

He did his utmost to defend the town, stating "Shkodra is our fate or our grave, but not our shame".

[1] He was assassinated by Osman Bali and Mehmed Kavaja,[2] both servants of Essad Pasha.