One of the greatest Turkish seamen. He was born in Gelibolu. It is not certain in which year he was born. He passed his youth being engaged in piracy and in marine wars, and he was put into official service of Ottoman State in 1494. The rumor reported by some of the Ottoman Historians that he was taken captive by Captain of the Sea Sinan Pasha and was granted to the palace as a slave is not true. This may be a mistake arising from his giving a prince he took captive during sea combats. His being called Reis (Skipper) was because he was the skiper of Azeps. According to the writings by historian Ali, Kemal Reis went to Lower Europe when he was the skinner of Azeps in Egriboz, he assaulted on fortresses in all coasts, and became the leader of seamen his ships gradually becoming more and more. The rulers of Europe shores were confused of his fear.
One night he arrived in Malta Island and somehow took captive the son of the ruler of the Island and took him together with many cloth loads to Gelibolu to Albanian Sinan Bey first, and then upon the recommendation of Sinan Bey, to Istanbul to the palace. His reputation in Ottoman State seems to have started with this event.
Kemal Reis went near Spain upon the help call of Mevla Hasan, the last ruler of Beni Ahmer dynasty in Gırnata, with his navy, and spread terror there by demonstrations and attacks.
At the same time, he took captive the ships of Christopher Columbus turning back from America together with their crew, in their third return. The evidence of this is that he had a Portuguese slave who took part in exploration of America for three times and that he captured the handwriting maps of Christopher Columbus. Afterwards, Piri Reis took advantage of those while mapping America. Famous geographer Piri reis, is the son of Kemal Reis' sibling.
Kemal Reis came out useful in expeditions of Inebahtı, Modon and seizing of Mora shores from Venetians. Kemal Reis took to Egypt the gifts by Beyazid the 2nd sent to Hijaz. Prince Korkut had escaped from Egypt and then returned at the same time. The Egyptian ships bringing the Prince were going to take timber from Anataloia in their return. Rhodes Knights captured these ships nera Marmaris. Kemal Reis set off from Gelibolu with a navy to put those knights into their place. The chief shipyard, who was a converted Hungarian, gave Kemal Reis a jerrybuilt ship by painting and embellishing, and thus this jerrybuilt ship broke into two parts near Rhodes and thus this great seaman was buried in this deep grave.
Kemal Reis, after a life spent in wars in the sea, died in the sea in 1523.
Kemal Reis was one of the biggest Turkish seamen. He ruled Mediterranean shores for years. He spent his youth as a pirate. He took part in many sea battles. His ships were sailing far away in the Mediterranean. He conquered many castles and collected spoils; he was a great Turkish sea hero.