Mehmet Şamil Şhaplı

Mehmet Şamil Bey (born Osman Paşazade Mehmet Şamil, Mehmet Şamil Şhaplı following Surname Law; 1891 – 2 February 1957), was a Turkish diplomat, journalist and sports executive, who was one of 22 founding members and first president of Turkish sports club Beşiktaş J.K. His presidency lasted 5 years between 1903 and 1908.

Biography Şhaplı, of Circassian descent, was born as Osman Paşazade Mehmet Şamil in 1891 in Medina, Ottoman Empire (today's Saudi Arabia), as the eldest of 11 siblings of Şhaplı Osman Ferit Pasha and Emire Nefiset Hanım. Emire Nefiset Hanım is the granddaughter of Shamil, 3rd Imam of Dagestan, the political, military, and spiritual leader of Caucasian resistance to Imperial Russia in the 1800s. Serencebey Neighbourhood, Beşiktaş District of Istanbul. Shortly after in 1902, the group were taken into custody since it was İstibdat period of Ottoman Empire and playing football was prohibited, however they have been released following unfolded fact that they were practising athletics, individually -rather than playing football. On contrary, Şehzade Abdülhalim, son of Süleyman Selim Efendi, and grandson of Emperor Abdulmejid, appointed Kenan Bey, a then-well-known boxer and wrestler.

In 1903, the Group founded "Beşiktaş Bereket Jimnastik Kulübü" (later registered as Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü in 1911).

Taken "Şhaplı" as surname following 1934 Surname Law, Mehmet Şamil Şhaplı died on 7 February 1957 in Istanbul. Following his death ceremony at Teşvikiye Mosque, he was buried in Eyüp Cemetery, next to his father's grave.