Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, (1881-1938) was the founder and the first President  of the Republic of Turkey. He was born in 1881 in Salonica. He graduated from the Military High School there, and thhen, in 1902,, he began his military career at the Staff College in Istanbul as a staff officer.
   During his military term of office, he served in the Balkan war as successful commander (1912-1914),
he further took part in the First World War (1914-1918) ; and after wards carried out various successful military operations.
   In the days following his landing in Samsunon May 1 1919, he convened the Erzurum and Sıvas Congresses. On Aprıl 23, 1920, he opened the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and hence, rushed into a series of efforts to establish a new Turkish State, the centre of which was to be Ankara.
   Atatürk besides being a military genius, a charismatic leader, was also a comprehensive reformer. It was then essential for the Republic of Turkey to Westernize in order to progresstowards the level of contemporary civilisations and to be an active members of the culturally developed communities . Mustafa Kemal dispelled his country's archaic beliefs and customs. For the salvation and survival of his people, Atatürk introduced reforms which he considered of vital importance between 1924-1936. These, series of reforms were enthusiastically welcomed by the Turkish people.
   The new Turkish State founded in 1920 required a new legal system. Atatürk adopted the Swiss Civil Code as substitute for Canocical Law (theological law-şeriat Kanunu), and instead of the penal code then in force brought in the Italian Penal Code. Hence, the Turkish Legal System was modernized consonant with contemporary requirements .
   As a result of such a modification, secularism, one of the fundamentals of Kemalism, signifying the complete separation of government and religious affairs, was adopted.
   One of the most important reforms of Atatürk was the abolition of use of the arabic script and the adoption of the Latin script. In 1928 the new Turkish Alphabet was adopted.
   With the reforms of Atatürk, Turkish woman, who for centuries had been left neglected,  were given new rights. Thus with the civil code passed, Turkish woman would enjoy equal rights with those of the men, could be appointed the official posts, would enjoy the right to vote and to be elected to the Parliament. The Monogamy principle and aqual rights for woman changed the spirit of the society.