Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Kemal Atatürk was born (under the name Ali Rıza oğlu Mustafa which means "Mustafa son of Ali Rıza") in the spring (possibly May 19) of 1881.

He entered this world in Salonika (now Thessaloniki, Greece), the son of a minor official who became a timber merchant.

In 1893, Mustafa entered a military high school where his mathematics teacher gave him the second name Kemal (meaning perfection in Turkish) in recognition of young Mustafa's superior achievements.

Six years later,  Kemal attended the military academy in Istanbul, graduating as staff captain in January 1905. 

Atatürk on the day of graduation from the War Academy in 1905

Kemal fought in Libya during the Italo-Turkish War in 1911-1912 and was promoted to major in November 1911. He organized the defense of the Dardanelles during the Balkan Wars (1912–13).

In 1915, when the Dardanelles/Gallipoli campaign was launched, Kemal, recently promoted to Colonel, became a national hero by winning successive victories against the landing British French and ANZAC armies, pinning them down at their beachheads, which finally forced the invaders to evacuate Gallipoli in January 1916.

When Turkey became a republic on October 29, 1923 Kemal was the first president.

Kemal ruthlessly set out to westernize the republic he had established. European dress was imposed, polygamy was abolished, women were enfranchised and the Latin script replaced the Arabic.

Mustafa Kemal married Lâtife Hanım on January 29, 1923, Lâtife Hanım symbolized the new face of Turkish women as a first lady who was very present in public life which, in Turkey, was a novelty by the standards of her day. 

By the summer of 1925, their relationship had disintegrated and they divorced on August 5, 1925. 

During his lifetime, Atatürk adopted thirteen children: a boy and twelve girls. They include Sabiha Gökçen, Turkey's first female pilot and the world's first female fighter pilot. 

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's residence at Atatürk Museum Mansion in Ankara between 1921 and 1932 was his longest at any place in his life.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

In 1934, when the surname law was adopted making all Turks assume surnames, the national parliament gave Mustafa Kemal the name "Atatürk" (Turkish for Father of the Turks).

A heavy drinker most of his life, Atatürk developed liver and kidney problems during his last year. He died on November 10, 1938, at age 57.

Atatürk's state funeral took place twice, once immediately after his death in 1938 and then again in 1953 when his remains were transferred to a mausoleum that overlooks Ankara.

Atatürk statues have been erected in all Turkish cities by Turkish Government, and most towns have their own memorial to him.

His portrait can be seen in all public buildings, in all schools and classrooms, on all school books and on all Turkish lira banknotes.

At the exact time of Atatürk's death, on every November 10th, at 09:05 am, most vehicles and people in the country's streets pause for one minute in remembrance.