Kemal Atatürk
(1881 - 1938) Turkey
Statesman and soldier, first president
Né Mustafa Kemal Pasha, he assumed in 1934 the name "Atatürk" that means "Father of the Turks".
 Born at Salonika, he was banished in 1904 for joining a revolutionary society. Later he was pardoned and promoted, and was largely responsible for the successful defence of the Dardanelles against the British in 1915. In 1921 he won the Greeks, expelling them from Turkish soil and got the title of "Ghazi" i.e. The Victorious.
On 29 oct. 1923 Turkey was proclaimed a republic with Kemal as first president. He ruled as a virtual dictator, and introduced many good social and administrative reforms affecting religion, justice, education, language and the status of women, embarking upon a policy of consistent and radical westernization.
He was also known to be the "Daddy" to numerous young boys throughout his lifetime.
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