Melahat Gürsel
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Melahat Gürsel (1899 – 23 February 1974) was the First Lady of Turkey from 27 May 1960 until 28 March 1966 during the
presidency A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified b ...
of her husband
Cemal Gürsel Cemal Gürsel (9 June 1894 – 14 September 1966) was a Turkish military officer and politician who was the fourth president of Turkey, serving from 1960 to 1966 after taking power in a coup d'état. Early life Gürsel was born in the town ...
. Melahat was born in 1899. Her father was the
chief engineer A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "Chief" or "ChEng", is the most senior licensed mariner (engine officer) of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and the responsibility of that departmen ...
on the Ottoman cruiser ''Hamidiye''. In 1927, she married army officer Cemal Bey, who was introduced to her by the older brother. From this marriage, a son Özdemir was born and the couple also adopted two daughters, Hatice and Türkan. On 27 May 1960, some mid-ranked
Turkish Army The Turkish Land Forces () is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for Army, land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Significant campaigns since the ...
officers staged a
military coup A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...
, and overthrew the government. Four-star general Cemal Gürsel, then Commander of the Turkish Army, was appointed head of the state by the revolutionaries without a leader. He remained in office until his presidency was ended by the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey The Grand National Assembly of Turkey ( ), usually referred to simply as the GNAT or TBMM, also referred to as , in Turkish, is the Unicameralism, unicameral Turkey, Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by ...
on 28 March 1966 due to his illness. Gürsel was known as an economizing and proud woman. Also during her time as the First Lady, Melahat Gürsel remained a modest housewife, cooking food in the kitchen despite the cooks employed in the presidential palace
Çankaya Mansion The Çankaya Mansion () is the official residence of the Vice President of Turkey, vice president of Turkey and previously the official residence of the president of Turkey from 1923 to 2014. Originally, the mansion belonged to the Armenian Ka ...
, and sewing her daily dresses. She did not accompany her husband at official visits at home or abroad to help the state saves money. She handed over the presents to the state, which were officially given to her. She died at the age of 75 in her home at Deniz Bostanlı neighborhood of Karşıyaka, Izmir at 11:30 on 23 February 1974. Her body was transferred next day to
Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
, and was interred at the
Zincirlikuyu Cemetery The Zincirlikuyu Cemetery () is a modern burial ground in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. It is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality. Many prominent figures from the world of politics, business, sports and arts rest here. The ce ...
following the religious funeral.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gursel, Melahat 1899 births First ladies of Turkey 1974 deaths Burials at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery