Şemsettin Günaltay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Şemsettin Günaltay
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| 8th Prime Minister of Turkey | |
| In office 16 January 1949 – 22 May 1950 |
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| President | İsmet İnönü |
| Preceded by | Hasan Saka |
| Succeeded by | Adnan Menderes |
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| In office 14 May 1950 – 2 May 1954 |
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| Constituency | Erzincan (1950) |
| In office 28 June 1923 – 14 May 1950 |
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| Constituency | Sivas (1923, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1939, 1943, 1946) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1883 Kemaliye, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 19 October 1961 (aged 78) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Political party | Republican People's Party |
| Alma mater | University of Lausanne |
Mehmet Şemsettin Günaltay (born July 17, 1883 – died October 19, 1961) was an important Turkish historian and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from 1949 to 1950. He played a key role in Turkish politics during a time of big changes.
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Who Was Şemsettin Günaltay?
Şemsettin Günaltay was born in 1883 in a town called Kemaliye, which was part of the Ottoman Empire back then. He grew up to be a respected scholar and a leader in his country.
Early Life and Education
Young Şemsettin went to Vefa High School in Istanbul. After that, he studied to become a teacher. He was very interested in science, so he went to the University of Lausanne in Switzerland to study physics. This education helped him think clearly and research deeply.
From Teacher to Historian
When he returned to Turkey, Günaltay started working as a teacher in high schools. During this time, he met Ziya Gökalp, a famous thinker who inspired him. Günaltay became very interested in Turkish history and began to research it.
In 1914, he became a professor at Istanbul University. He taught about the history of Turks and Islamic groups. He also wrote articles for a journal called İslam Mecmuası. Later, he even became the head of the Theology department at the same university.
A Career in Politics
Şemsettin Günaltay's journey into politics began in 1915. He was chosen to be a member of the Ottoman Parliament for Bilecik Province. He stayed in this role until the parliament was dissolved. Even while being a politician, he continued teaching at the university.
During the Turkish War of Independence, Günaltay supported the efforts to defend Turkey. After the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, he became a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. He represented Sivas Province for 27 years, from 1923 to 1950, as part of the Republican People's Party. Later, from 1950 to 1954, he represented Erzincan Province.
Becoming Prime Minister
In 1949, the Prime Minister at the time, Hasan Saka, resigned. President İsmet İnönü then asked Şemsettin Günaltay to form a new government. He became the Prime Minister on January 16, 1949.
His Time as Leader
Günaltay served as Prime Minister until May 22, 1950. He was the last Prime Minister during a period when only one political party was in power in Turkey. He was known for his knowledge of Islam. During his time as Prime Minister, he helped reopen the Faculty of Divinity at Ankara University, which had been closed earlier.
Later Life and Legacy
Şemsettin Günaltay passed away on October 19, 1961, in Istanbul. He had just been elected to the Senate (another part of the Turkish parliament) but sadly died before he could take his seat. He was buried in Ankara next to his daughter, as he wished.
Besides his political work, Günaltay was also the head of the Turkish Historical Society from 1941 until his death. This shows his lasting dedication to understanding and sharing Turkish history.
