Yorgo Zarifi (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Yorgo Y. Zarifi (1810 - 1884) was a prominent Greek Ottoman banker and financier. He was also very well known as a prominent benefactor of his time. Yorgo Zarifi met Sultan Abdulhamid II when the latter was a shahzade with a low expectation of ascending to the throne. The Prince, having financial troubles, called on the expertise of Zarifi to manage his personal wealth. After Abdulhamid became sultan, he continued to utilize Zarifi's advisory services. Living at the time when the Ottoman Empire was in great financial distress and had declared bankruptcy, Zarifi was one of the Galata bankers that was involved in the Empire's debt raising. He was also involved in setting up Duyun-u Umumiye (Office of Public Debt) in 1881 that oversaw tax collection and debt payments of the Ottoman Empire.