Gabriel Turbay (1901–1947) was a Colombian politician of Syrian descent. He was a Congressman, Senator, and Foreign Minister in the 1930s. He served as Colombia's Ambassador to the United States from 1939 to 1945. He was an unsuccessful candidate for president in 1946.

Early life

Gabriel Turbay was born on January 10, 1901, in

Bucaramanga Bucaramanga () is the capital and largest city of the department of Santander, Colombia. Bucaramanga has the fifth-largest economy by GDP in Colombia, has the lowest unemployment rate and has the ninth-largest population in the country, with 68 ...

, Colombia. His parents, Juan Turbay and Barbara Abunader, were immigrants to Colombia from Lebanon. Turbay earned a PhD in Medicine and Surgery from the

National University of Colombia The National University of Colombia () is a national public research university in Colombia, with general campuses in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira, and satellite campuses in Leticia, San Andrés, Arauca, Tumaco, and La Paz, Ces ...

Career

Turbay began his career as a physician in his hometown of Bucaramanga. Turbay joined the

Colombian Liberal Party The Colombian Liberal Party ( es, Partido Liberal Colombiano; PLC) is a centre to centre-left political party in Colombia. It was founded as a classical liberal party but later developed a more social-democratic tradition, joining the Socialis ...

. He served as a member of the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

from 1927 to 1934, and the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

from 1934 to 1937. Turbay served as the Foreign Minister of Colombia from 1937 to 1938. He then served as Colombia's Ambassador to the United States from 1939 to 1945. He was opposed to the creation of Israel. Turbay ran unsuccessfully for president in 1946.

Death

Turbay died on November 17, 1947, in Paris, France.

References

1901 births 1947 deaths Colombian people of Lebanese descent People from Bucaramanga National University of Colombia alumni Presidential Designates of Colombia Members of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia Members of the Senate of Colombia Foreign ministers of Colombia Ambassadors of Colombia to the United States Colombian Liberal Party politicians {{Colombia-politician-stub Turbay family