Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Before being in a nuptial relationship, he was speculated to be in a romantic relationship with two women - Eleni Karinte and Fikriye Hanim. He married Latife Usakligil on January 29, 1923. The unison was not a happy one and the two separated in 1925.

Though he had no biological children, he is said to have adopted thirteen children, 12 daughters and one son of which Sabiha Gokcen became famous for being world's first female fighter pilot and Turkey's first female pilot

His health deteriorated starting 1937. He suffered from serious illness in 1938 while on a trip to Yalova. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis of liver.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born as Mustafa to Zubeyde Hanim and Ali Rıza Efendi. While his mother was a housewife, his father was employed as a militia officer, title-deed clerk and lumber trader. He was the only child of the couple who survived past childhood.

When he was 12 years of age, he attended the military academy where his mathematics teacher gave him the name ‘Kemal’ or perfection for his excellence in academics. The name stayed with him for the rest of his life. In 1905, he completed his studies.

Following his studies, he was drafted as a staff Captain in the Fifth Army based in Damascus. No sooner he was promoted to the rank of Senior Captain and eventually Inspector of the Ottoman Railways in Eastern Rumelia

While continuing his service, he became an active member of the Young Turks, a revolutionary movement of the intellectuals. In 1908, he even went on to participate in the Young Turk Revolution, which successfully seized power from Sultan Abdulhamid II and established the constitutional monarchy.

For a period of about 9 years from 1909 to 1918, he held a number of posts in the Ottoman army. He actively contributed in the Italo-Turkish War from 1911 to 1912 where he fought against Italy and later in the Balkan War from 1912 to 1913.

In 1913, he was appointed as the Ottoman military attache to all Balkan states and promoted to the rank of Kaymakam (Lieutenant Colonel) in 1914. In the First World War, he was given the task of commanding the 19th Division.

As a commander of the 19th Division, he became quite famous and was known all through for his astute sense, bravery and strategic powers. These capabilities helped him thwart the Allied invasion of the Dardanelles in 1915.

The Turkish government bestowed upon him several high-profile decorations such as Fifth Class Knight Order of the Medjidie, Silver Imtiyaz Medal, Silver Liakat Medal, Golden Liakat Medal, Second Class Knight Order of Osmanieh, Second Class Knight Order of the Medjidie, Golden Imtiyaz Medal, First Class Knight Order of the Medjidie, Gallipoli Star, Medal of Independence and Murassa Order

Other countries that honoured him include France’s National Order of the Legion of Honour, Bulgaria’ Commander Grand Cross Order Of Saint Alexander, Germany’s 1st and 2nd Class Iron Cross, Prussia’s 1st Class Order of the Crown Prussia, Afghanistan’s Aluyulala Order of Kingdom of Afghanistan and so on.