Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881-1938) Turkish soldier and statesman.

The name Ataturk means 'father of the Turks' and it was given to Mustafa Kemal in 1933. Ten years earlier he had founded the modern state of Turkey.

Mustafa, who was nicknamed Kemal, became famous in the First World War (1914-18). He was a general, and he defeated the British and Commonwealth forces at Gallipoli. At this time Turkey was ruled by a sultan. After the war Kemal formed a government. It ruled most of Asia Minor but the Sultan still ruled in the region of Istanbul. Then in 1922, the Sultan gave up his place as ruler and Kemal became the president of the new Turkey.

He made great changes, wiping out many Muslim customs. Women no longer had to wear veils in public. Men could not have several wives. He improved the schools, introduced the Roman alphabet for writing the Turkish language, and brought into use the same calendar as is used in Western Europe.

See Andrew Mango Ataturk: The Biography of the founder of Modern Turkey