Atatürk, Mustafa Kemal b. May 19, 1881 d. November 10, 1938 Founder and First President of Republic of Turkey. He was born in the Ottoman city of Salonika which is the modern day city of Thessaloniki in Greece. His mother enrolled him in a religious school but he rebelled, had a fight with teacher and left home to enroll in a military school. He went on to graduate from the War College in Istanbul and the War Academy. During the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 he became a military hero and in 1919 the leader of the Turkey national liberation struggle. He...[Read More] (Bio by: Tom Todd) Anitkabir Mausoleum, Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Ecevit, Bulent b. May 28, 1925 d. November 5, 2006 Turkish Prime Minister. He served as Prime Minister of Turkey in 1974, 1977, 1978 to 1980, and 1998 to 2002. He ordered the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority, leading to the island's division which still exists today. He was swept from power in 2002. (Bio by: Erik Lander) State Memorial, Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Gursel, Cemal b. 1895 d. September 14, 1966 Statesman. He served as Prime Minister of Turkey from 1960 to 1961, and as President of Turkey from 1961 to 1966. (Bio by: K) State Memorial, Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Inönü, Ismet b. September 24, 1884 d. December 25, 1973 Turkish Statesman. Born in Ismir, he formed the first government of the Republic of Turkey on October 30, 1923, becoming the first Prime Minister of Turkey, serving from 1923 to 1937 and again from 1961 to 1965. He became President of Turkey in 1938 upon the death of Kemal Atatürk, remaining in office until 1950. Served in the Balkan Wars and World War I and then became Atatürk's chief of staff playing an important part in the establishment of the Turkish republic and in the victory over the...[Read More] (Bio by: Fred Beisser) Anitkabir Mausoleum, Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Korutürk, Fahri b. August 3, 1903 d. October 12, 1987 6th President of Turkey. On April 6, 1973, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey elected him the 6th President of the Republic of Turkey. He served the constitutional term of seven years, until April 6, 1980. Afterwards, he became a permanent senator. He died in Moda, Istanbul, Turkey. (Bio by: Firdevs) State Memorial, Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Sunay, Cevdet b. 1899 d. May 22, 1982 5th President of Turkey. Born in Trabzon, Turkey, he graduated from Military Academy in Istanbut, and served a successful military career, becoming a four star general in 1959 and Chief of Staff in 1960. In 1966 he was appointed Senator, and on March 28, 1966, he was elected President of the Republic by Turkish Parliament. He served the constitutional term of seven years until March 28, 1973, and became then a permanent senator. He died in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1982. (Bio by: Firdevs) State Memorial, Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
b. May 19, 1881 d. November 10, 1938