governor of Kavala, and Kadriye (Zaynab's sister).

After Muhammad's promising success in collecting taxes, he earned the rank of Second Commander (Binbashi) under his cousin Sarechesme Halil Agha in the Kavala Volunteer Contingent of Albanian mercenaries that was sent to re-occupy Egypt following General Napoleon Bonaparte's withdrawal. In 1801, his unit was sent, as part of a much larger Ottoman force, to re-occupy Egypt following