He was a soldier, statesman and the second President of Republic of Turkey. Mustafa Ismet was born in Izmir, in 1884. He had his primary education in Sivas. In 1903, he finished the Military Academy. As he was a brilliant soldier he was accepted to the Staff Academy in Istanbul. He met with many brilliant soldiers under this roof, as Mustafa Kemal, Kazim Karabekir, Fethi Okyar, Ali Fuat Cebesoy, and Asim Gunduz.

Mustafa Ismet was appointed to the Second Army in Edirne. In Edirne, he was designated to be the commander of the 8^th Artillery Corps’ 3^rd Division. He remained in this duty for two years. As he completed his duty, he was appointed to Edirne 2^nd Cavalry Troop. Menawhile, he had received a letter form his friend Fethi whom joined to the Party of Union and Progress. As the Young Turk revolution was began (24^th July 1908), Ismet took action in the military and the civilian administrations. He joined to the Action Army sent to repress the revolt in Roumelia.

He won one of his most important victories in Yemen. For the first time in the Ottoman History he signed an agreement with a non-Turk race and stopped the rebellions continued for 100 years. His had worked in Yemen between 26^th February 1910 and 5^th March 1912.

On 5^th March 1912, he came to Istanbul and stayed there until 1915. In this period he had worked under the command of Enver Pasha who was the Minister of International Affairs and the representative of Commander-in-Chief. On 26^th April he was raised to major rank and on 23^rd November 1914, he was promoted to lieutenant Colonel rank.

During the First World War, he fought in the East and Syria fronts. On 14^th May 1917 he became the commander of 20^th Army and on 2^nd July 1917 the commander of 3^rd Army. In January 1920, he was appointed as the commander of the western fronts. He fought with the Greek Army and with Cerkes Ethem.

After the Inonu Wars, he was promoted to brigadier general rank and after his arrival to Izmir he was given major general rank.

Mustafa Kemal given him the mission to carry the negotiations of the Mudanya Armistice (26^th October 1922). Later he was chosen the chief of the Lausanne Negotiations. He was appointed as the Minister of the International Affairs. In Lausanne he had proved himself as a diplomat. After his arrival to Turkey, he was appointed the Prime Minister (29^th October 1923). Until 1937, he continued to be the prime minister of Turkey.

After the death of Ataturk he was the only name to replace him. Essentially, he had been elected the President with the full majority.

With 1950 elections, 27 years CHP’s (Republican People Party) rule was ended and Ismet Pasha had came to the end of his active political life. In 1973, he was seen in the political scene again. He died in 25^th December 1973, he was buried in Anitkabir.

©Copyright 1999 FORSNeT (All Rights Reserved)