Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the founder and first president of Turkey. He was born in 1881 in Salonika and lost his father at a young age. Atatürk excelled in his military education and career, becoming a successful commander. After World War I, he led Turkey's War of Independence against occupying powers. On October 29, 1923, Atatürk declared the Turkish Republic and instituted radical reforms to modernize the country. He served as Turkey's first president until his death in 1938.