Mustafa Kemal ATATURK (1881 – 1938 )

FOUNDER AND THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC

Atatürk was born in 1881 at the Kocakasım ward of Salonika, in a three story pink house located on Islahhane
Street. His father is Ali Rıza Efendi and his mother Zübeyde Hanım. His paternal grandfather, Hafız Ahmed
Efendi belonged to the Kocacık nomads who were settled in Macedonia during the 14 – 15 th centuries. His
mother Zübeyde Hanım was the daughter of an Old Turkish family who had settled in the town of Langasa
near Salonika. Ali Rıza Efendi, who worked as militia officer, title deed clerck and lumber trader, married
Zübeyde Hanım in 1871. Four of the 5 siblings of Atatürk died at early ages and only one sister, Makbule
(Atadan) survived, and lived until 1956.

Upon reaching school age, little Mustafa started school at the neighborhood classes of Hafız Mehmet Efendi
and later, with his father’s choice, was transferred to Şemsi Efendi School. He lost his father in 1888 where
upon he stayed at the farm of his maternal uncle for a while and returned to Salonika to complete his studies.
He registered at the Salonika Mülkiye Rüştiye (secondary school) and soon transferred to the military Rüştiye.
While at this school, his math teacher, also named Mustafa, added “Kemal” to his name. He attended the
Manastır Military School between 1896 – 1899 and later the Military School in İstanbul from which he
graduated in 1902 with the rank of lieutenant. He later entered the Military Academy and graduated on
January 11, 1905 with the rank of major.

In 1911, he served against the Italians in Libya and then in the Balkan Wars (1912 - 1913). He made his military
reputation repelling the Allied invasion at the Dardanelles in 1915.

In May 1919, Atatürk began a nationalist revolution in Anatolia, organising resistance to the peace settlement
imposed on Turkey by the victorious Allies. This was particularly focused on resisting Greek attempts to seize
Smyrna and its hinterland. Victory over the Greeks enabled him to secure revision of the peace settlement in
the Treaty of Lausanne.

In 1921, Atatürk established a provisional government in Ankara. The following year the Ottoman Sultanate
was formally abolished and, in 1923, Turkey became a secular republic with Atatürk as its president. He
established a single party regime that lasted almost without interruption until 1945.

He launched a programme of revolutionary social and political reform to modernise Turkey. These reforms
included the emancipation of women, the abolition of all Islamic institutions and the introduction of Western
legal codes, dress, calendar and alphabet, replacing the Arabic script with a Latin one. Abroad he pursued a
policy of neutrality, establishing friendly relations with Turkey's neighbours.

Atatürk led a very simple private life. He married Latife Hanım on 29 January 1923. They took many trips to
different parts of the country together. This marriage lasted until 5 August 1925.

In 1935, when surnames were introduced in Turkey, he was given the name Atatürk, meaning 'Father of the
Turks'.
He enjoyed books and music as well as dancing, horse riding and swimming. He was extremely interested in
Zeybek dances, wrestling and the Rumelia folk songs. Games of billards and backgammon gave him great
pleasure. He valued his horse Sakarya and his dog Fox . He had a rich library. He used to invite statesman,
scholars and artists to dinners where the problems of the country were discussed. He was particular about his
appearence and enjoyed dressing well. He was also a lover of nature. He used to frequent the Atatürk Forest
Farm and join in the work.He knew French and German.

Atatürk died on 10 November 1938 at 9.05 A.M at Dolmabahçe Palace, defeated by the liver ailment he was
suffering from.