Ismet Inönü

Born Sept. 24, 1884, in Izmir; died Dec. 25, 1973, in Ankara. Turkish politician and statesman. Son of a judge; military man by education and profession.

In 1920, İnönü joined the Kemal revolution and soon became one of the closest comrades-in-arms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He was chief of the general staff and commander of the Western Front. In January and March of 1921, Turkish troops under the command of İnönü (then İsmet Pașsa) won victories over Greek interventionists near the village of İnönü. In 1934, when surnames were introduced in Turkey, he received the name İnönü in honor of the victories.

After the Mudanya Armistice in 1922, he was appointed minister of foreign affairs and head of the Turkish delegation to the Lausanne Conference (1922–23). He was premier from Oct. 30, 1923, to Nov. 1,1937 (with a hiatus from Nov. 20, 1924, to Mar. 3, 1925). In 1932 he visited the USSR.

After the death of Atatiirk (Nov. 10, 1938), İnönü was chosen chairman of the ruling Republican People’s Party (RPP) and president of the republic. He remained in the post until May 1950, after which, as a result of the party’s defeat in parliamentary elections, he headed the opposition in the majlis. From October 1961 to February 1965 he was premier and then again leader of the opposition. On May 8, 1972, he left the post of chairman of the RPP.