Turkish politician

Reşit Galip, also known as Mustafa Reşit Baymur (1893 – 5 March 1934) was a Turkish politician in the early years of the Turkish Republic. By profession, he was a medical doctor.

Contents

• 1 Early years
• 2 In politics
• 3 Death
• 4 Legacy
• 5 References

Early years

He was born in the Sanjak of Rhodes (now an island of Greece, then a part of the Ottoman Empire) in 1883. His father was Mehmet Galip, a judge and his mother was Münevver. He completed his elementary education in Rhodes. According to his granddaughter Feyhan Oran, when Rhodes was occupied by Italy he escaped to İzmir where he finished his highschool education. Then, he travelled to İstanbul to study medicine. During the Balkan War and the First World War he voluntarily served in the fronts. In 1917 he graduated from the medicine school of İstanbul University. Although he briefly served as an *istant in the faculty, he later on moved to Tavşanlı ( a town in West Anatolia) to participate in the Turkish War of Independence. Towards the end of the war, he was appointed as the official doctor in Mersin. In 1925 he was elected as an MP from Aydın Province.

In politics

Reşit Galip in the 1920s

He was always interested in politics. In İzmir and İstanbul he published bulletins and in Mersin he wrote in a local newspaper as the chief editor. While serving as an MP, he was elected a member of the Independence Tribunals. In 1930s he served as the charter member of two *ociations which were supported by Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkish Republic; Turkish Language *ociation and Turkish Historical Society. He later on became the president of Turkish Language *ociation. Between 19 September 1932 and 13 July 1933 he served as the Minister of National Education. (see 7th government of Turkey)

During his brief service period he initiated university reforms and planned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, an important museum in Ankara. He is also known as the creator of daily student oath.

Death

While serving in the wars he had contracted tuberculosis. On 5 March 1934, he died in Ankara. He was laid to rest in Cebeci Asri Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Legacy

Two streets one in Ankara and one in National Socialist German Workers' Partylli (Aydın Province) are named after Reşit Galip.Two primary schools one in Zeytinburnu, İstanbul and one in Çankaya, Ankara are also named after him.

References