Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938) was a Turkish military commander, statesman, and the founder and first President of the Republic of Türkiye. He led the War of Independence, established the modern Turkish state, and introduced major political, legal, educational, and social reforms.

Early Life and Education
Mustafa Kemal was born in 1881 in Salonica, Ottoman Empire. After his father Ali Rıza Efendi died, his mother Zübeyde Hanım raised him. In 1893, he entered the Military Preparatory School in Salonica, where his math teacher named him "Kemal." He graduated from the Ottoman Military Academy (1902) and Staff College (1905).

Military Career and Battles
Mustafa Kemal served as a commander and strategist across all major conflicts:

31 March Incident (1909): Chief of Staff of the Action Army restoring order in Istanbul.

Italo-Turkish War / Tripolitanian War (1911–1912): Fought Italian forces in Libya, commanding defense at Tobruk and Derna.

Balkan Wars (1912–1913): Organized defenses at Gallipoli and Bolayır; helped recapture Edirne during the Second Balkan War.

World War I (1914–1918):

Gallipoli Campaign (1915): Commanded the 19th Division, decisively halting Allied forces at Arıburnu, Conkbayırı, and Anafartalar.

Caucasus Front (1916–1917): Promoted to Brigadier General; recaptured Bitlis and Muş from Russian forces.

Sinai and Palestine / Syrian Front (1917–1918): Commanded the 7th Army, organizing defensive lines north of Aleppo.

War of Independence (1919–1922)
Arriving in Samsun on 19 May 1919, he organized national resistance via the Amasya Circular, Erzurum Congress, and Sivas Congress. On 23 April 1920, he opened the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara as its Speaker.

Battles of İnönü (1921): Directed overall strategy from Ankara while İsmet Pasha commanded regular forces on the Western Front.

Battle of Sakarya (1921): Personally commanded forces in a 22-day battle; awarded Field Marshal rank and "Gazi" title.

Great Offensive & Battle of Dumlupınar (1922): Personally led the decisive victory driving foreign troops from Anatolia, finalized by the Treaty of Lausanne (1923).

Foundation of the Republic and Reforms
The Sultanate was abolished in 1922, and the Republic of Türkiye was proclaimed on 29 October 1923 with Atatürk as President. He abolished the Caliphate (1924) and introduced sweeping reforms: unified national education, Latin alphabet (1928), secular Civil Code, women’s voting rights, and the Surname Law (1934).

Foreign Policy, Legacy and Death
His foreign policy followed "Peace at home, peace in the world," securing agreements like the Balkan Pact (1934) and Montreux Convention (1936). Author of the historical speech Nutuk (1927), Atatürk died on 10 November 1938 at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. His remains rest at Anıtkabir in Ankara.