SEYDI ALI REIS , Galatali
Seydi Ali Reis was born in Galata. His date of birth is not certain. He was the son of a sailor family who settled down in Sinop after conquest of Istanbul Seydi Ali Reis, one of the best seamen of 16th century, had a good education in his youth. He learned knowledge about Seamanship in his youth. He learned Arabic and Persian and got interested in mathematics, astronomy and physics.
His father and grandfather were shipyard majordomo. Seydi Ali Reis, who took part in Rhodes expedition in 1522, went for many sea campaign under Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha, and learned Western Mediterranean region very well. After Preveze war, he became more famous. In the operation ended in conquest of Trablusgarp, he worked under Captain of the Sea Sinan Pasha and Turgut Reis. He was appointed Indian Captain in 1553 to take an Ottoman navy to Suveyş. Seydi Ali Reis came across the Portuguese navy consisting of 34 pieces in South Arabia shores. Despite the storm and violent enemy attack, he was able to go in front of Demen castle. He went to capital city of Guceret, Ahmedabat with the six ships remaining after the three ships which ran aground there. Seydi Ali Reis, understanding that he will not be able to pass Suveyş, sold the ships and munitions to Guceret ruler and sent their money to Istanbul, and lived abroad for three years.
Then he turned back to Istanbul on land passing through India, Afghanistan, Turkistan, Azerbaijan and Iran. He turned his travel into a book named Mir'atü'l-Memâlik.
When he returned to Istanbul in 1557, despite he was responsible for a destroyed navy, he was not considered guilty because of extraordinary events he faced. He was made muteferrika first. Then he was appointed to head of Timar financial department. He served Prince Selim for some time. He become one of the ship skippers of Galata.
Seydi Ali Reis died in Istanbul in 1562.
Seydi Ali Reis has various books on geography, astronomy and mathematics. One of his books is Muhü, another is Miratul Kainat. Moreover, he translated a book by Ali Kuscu on astronomy into Turkish.
Seydi Ali Reis, who died in 1562, had many poems. He was both a scholar and an artist and a sea hero.