Refik Saydam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr.
Refik Saydam
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Saydam in 1939
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| 4th Prime Minister of Turkey | |
| In office 25 January 1939 – 8 July 1942 |
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| President | İsmet İnönü |
| Preceded by | Celâl Bayar |
| Succeeded by | Ahmet Fikri Tüzer |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 11 November 1938 – 25 January 1939 |
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| Prime Minister | Celâl Bayar |
| Preceded by | Mehmet Cemil Uybadın |
| Succeeded by | Mehmet Faik Öztrak |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 4 March 1925 – 25 October 1937 |
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| Prime Minister | İsmet İnönü |
| Preceded by | Mazhar Germen |
| Succeeded by | Ahmet Hulusi Alataş |
| In office 30 October 1923 – 21 November 1924 |
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| Prime Minister | İsmet İnönü |
| Preceded by | Rıza Nur |
| Succeeded by | Mazhar Germen |
| In office 10 March 1921 – 20 December 1921 |
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| Prime Minister | Fevzi Çakmak |
| Preceded by | Adnan Adıvar |
| Succeeded by | Rıza Nur |
| Minister of National Education | |
| In office 13 August 1933 – 26 October 1933 |
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| Prime Minister | İsmet İnönü |
| Preceded by | Reşit Galip |
| Succeeded by | Yusuf Hikmet Bayur |
| In office 17 September 1930 – 26 September 1930 |
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| Prime Minister | İsmet İnönü |
| Preceded by | Cemal Hüsnü Taray |
| Succeeded by | Esat Sagay |
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| In office 28 June 1923 – 8 July 1942 |
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| Constituency | Istanbul (1923, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1939) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
İbrahim Refik
8 September 1881 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 8 July 1942 (aged 60) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Political party | Republican People's Party (CHP) |
| Alma mater | Gülhane Military Medical Academy |
| Profession | Physician |
| Signature |  |
İbrahim Refik Saydam (born September 8, 1881 – died July 8, 1942) was an important Turkish doctor and politician. He served as the fourth Prime Minister of Turkey from January 25, 1939, until his death in 1942.
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Who Was Refik Saydam?
Refik Saydam was born in Istanbul in 1881. His father was Hacı Ahmet Efendi. He went to Fatih Military Junior High School. Later, he studied at the Military School of Medicine. He graduated in 1905 as a doctor captain.
He worked at military hospitals. From 1907 to 1910, he was a doctor at Maltepe Military Hospital. He also worked at the Feshane Factory. To learn more, he went to Germany in 1910. There, he improved his skills in military medicine.
His Role as a Doctor
Refik Saydam was a medic in the Ottoman Army. This was during the time the Ottoman Empire was ending. He developed a special medicine to treat typhus. This disease was very common back then. His medicine was widely used by the Central Powers during World War I.
Refik Saydam's Political Journey
Refik Saydam played a key role in the Turkish War of Independence. In 1919, he traveled to Samsun with Mustafa Kemal (later known as Atatürk). This journey marked the start of the resistance movement in Anatolia.
He was known as a leader who wanted to make many changes. This was especially true when he became Prime Minister. Turkey changed a lot in the years after his death.
Early Political Steps
On December 1, 1913, Saydam became the vice-president of the Health Department in the Ministry of War. He was promoted to major in 1915. During this time, he set up the Institute of Bacteriology. This institute created vaccines to fight diseases like typhus.
After a truce, he became a health inspector for the army. He went to Anatolia with Mustafa Kemal in 1919. He attended important meetings like the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses. He then came to Ankara and joined the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. He was elected as a representative for Bayazıt in 1920.
He became the Minister of Health in the government led by Fevzi Pasha. He later resigned due to illness.
Serving as a Minister
Refik Saydam was elected as a representative for Istanbul. He served as the Minister of Health in several governments. These were led by İsmet Pasha (later İsmet İnönü). He worked hard to improve health services across the country.
He also helped establish the Hıfzıssıha Foundation. This foundation is still known by his name today. It focuses on public health.
Becoming Prime Minister
After Mustafa Kemal Atatürk passed away, Refik Saydam became the Minister of Interior in November 1938. He also became the general secretary of the Republican People's Party.
On January 25, 1939, President İsmet İnönü appointed him as the Prime Minister of Turkey. He served as Prime Minister during a difficult time. He worked to protect Turkey from the challenges of World War II.
Refik Saydam passed away in Istanbul on July 8, 1942. He was buried in Ankara. He was never married.
Images for kids
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Refik Saydam's grave at Cebeci Asri Cemetery.
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Refik Saydam in the 1920s.
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Ismet Inonu and Refik Saydam, 1939.
See also
