Kemal Zeytinoğlu (1911–1959) was a Turkish engineer and politician being a member of the Democrat Party (DP). He assumed various cabinet posts in the 1950s under Prime Minister

Adnan Menderes Ali Adnan Ertekin Menderes (; 1899 – 17 September 1961) was a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister of Turkey between 1950 and 1960. He was one of the founders of the Democrat Party (DP) in 1946, the fourth legal opposition party of ...

. He died in a plane crash in the United Kingdom.

Early life and education

Zeytinoğlu was born in Kütahya in 1911. His father was a businessman, Mesut Zeytinoğlu. The family hailed from

Tavşanlı Tavşanlı is a city in Kütahya Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is the seat of Tavşanlı District.

Kütahya Kütahya (; historically, Cotyaeum or Kotyaion; Ancient Greek, Greek: Κοτύαιον) is a city in western Turkey which lies on the Porsuk River, at 969 metres above sea level. It is the seat of Kütahya Province and Kütahya District. In 19 ...

. His brother, Aziz, was also a politician and served as a deputy between 1961 and 1969. His younger brother was Mümtaz Zeytinoğlu, a businessman who died in a road accident in February 1979. He graduated from Istanbul Engineering School and received a PhD in

civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...

in Vienna.

Career

Following his graduation Zeytinoğlu worked as a civil engineer in

Eskişehir Eskişehir ( , ; from 'old' and 'city') is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. The urban population of the city is 821 315 (Odunpazari + Tebebasi), with a metropolitan population of 921 630. The city is l ...

. In 1946 he joined the newly founded Democrat Party and took part in the establishment of its Eskişehir organization. He was first elected as a deputy for Eskişehir in 1946 election and served at the Parliament during the 8th legislature. He also served at the

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

in the 9th and 10th legislatures. Zeytinoğlu was first appointed

minister of public works This list indicates government departments in various countries dedicated to public works or infrastructure. See also * Public works * Ministry or Board of Public Works, the imperial Chinese ministry overseeing public projects from the Tang ...

on 22 December 1950 and remained in office in the three successive cabinets led by Adnan Menderes ( 19th cabinet, 20th cabinet and 21st cabinet).

Personal life and death

He was married and had two children. Zeytinoğlu was accompanying Prime Minister Adnan Menderes in a state visit on the Cyprus issue to be held in London on 17 February 1959. The plane crashed in Jordan's Wood,

Newdigate Newdigate is a village and civil parish in the Mole Valley borough of Surrey. Lying in a relatively flat part of the Weald, Newdigate is to the east of the A24 road between Dorking and Horsham, ESE of Guildford and south of London. Neigh ...

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

, near

London Gatwick Airport Gatwick Airport , also known as London Gatwick Airport (), is the Airports of London, secondary international airport serving London, West Sussex and Surrey. It is located near Crawley in West Sussex, south of Central London. In 2024, Gatwic ...

, and killed Zeytinoğlu and thirteen other Turkish officials, including crew members. Menderes survived the accident. Zeytinoğlu's body was brought to Ankara by the British Air Force plane and then, to Eskişehir by train for burial which took place on 24 February.

Legacy

There are many streets named after him in

Tavşanlı Tavşanlı is a city in Kütahya Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is the seat of Tavşanlı District.

, and Eskişehir.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeytinoglu, Kemal 20th-century Turkish engineers 1911 births 1959 deaths Democrat Party (Turkey, 1946–1960) politicians Deputies of Eskişehir Ministers of public works of Turkey Members of the 19th government of Turkey Members of the 20th government of Turkey Members of the 21st government of Turkey Members of the 8th Parliament of Turkey Members of the 9th Parliament of Turkey Members of the 10th Parliament of Turkey People from Tavşanlı Turkish civil engineers Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in England Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1959