Kemal Ataturk — Founder of Modern Turkey

Mustafa Kemal is born in Salonica (now Thessaloniki, Greece), then part of the Ottoman Empire. He is the son of Ali Riza Efendi, a military officer and lumber trader, and Zubeyde Hanim. He will later be given the middle name "Kemal" (meaning perfection) by his mathematics teacher.

After his father's death in 1888, Mustafa Kemal enters the military preparatory school in Salonica, defying his mother's wish for him to learn a trade. He later attends the Monastir Military High School where he excels in mathematics.

Mustafa Kemal graduates from the Ottoman Military Academy and Staff College in Constantinople as a Staff Captain. He is posted to the Fifth Army in Syria, where he joins a secret revolutionary society, Vatan ve Hurriyet (Motherland and Liberty).

The Young Turk Revolution forces Sultan Abdul Hamid II to restore the Ottoman constitution and parliament. Mustafa Kemal participates as a member of the Committee of Union and Progress, though he later becomes critical of its leadership.

As commander of the 19th Division, Mustafa Kemal plays a decisive role in the Battle of Gallipoli, halting the Allied advance at Anzac Cove. His leadership and famous order ("I am not ordering you to attack, I am ordering you to die") make him a national hero.

After the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I, Mustafa Kemal lands in Samsun as Inspector of the Ninth Army. He soon resigns from the Ottoman army and begins organizing the Turkish National Movement to resist Allied occupation and the partition of Anatolia.

Mustafa Kemal opens the Grand National Assembly (BMM) in Ankara, establishing a rival government to the Ottoman sultanate in Constantinople. He is elected speaker. The Ankara government leads the resistance against invading Greek, Armenian, French, and British forces.

After being appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mustafa Kemal leads the Turkish forces to victory at the Battle of Sakarya (August-September 1921) and the decisive Battle of Dumlupinar (August 1922). He receives the rank of Marshal and the title Gazi (veteran warrior). Greek forces are driven from Anatolia.

The Grand National Assembly abolishes the Ottoman sultanate, ending 623 years of Ottoman rule. The last sultan, Mehmed VI, flees Constantinople aboard a British warship. This paves the way for the proclamation of the Republic.

The Republic of Turkey is officially proclaimed, with Ankara as its capital. Mustafa Kemal is unanimously elected as the first President of Turkey. The Treaty of Lausanne, signed earlier that year, had secured international recognition of Turkey's borders.

The Grand National Assembly abolishes the Ottoman Caliphate, ending 1,300 years of Islamic caliphal authority. All members of the Ottoman dynasty are exiled. This is the most dramatic of Ataturk's secularizing reforms, separating religion from state.

The Grand National Assembly adopts a new Latin-based Turkish alphabet to replace the Arabic script, dramatically increasing literacy rates. Ataturk personally promotes the new alphabet, traveling across the country to teach citizens how to read and write in the new script.

The Grand National Assembly grants Mustafa Kemal the surname "Ataturk," meaning "Father of the Turks" or "Turk like his ancestors," as part of the Surname Law. The law also prohibits others from using the name Ataturk.

Turkish women are granted full political rights, including the right to vote and stand for election. This is part of Ataturk's broader reforms that included civil code reform, the abolition of Islamic courts, and the promotion of women's education and professional participation.

Ataturk dies at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul at the age of 57, likely from cirrhosis of the liver. His death triggers an outpouring of national grief. He is succeeded as president by Ismet Inonu. His body is later interred at Anitkabir in Ankara.