Celâl Bayar

Mahmut Celâlettin Bayar lived for 103 years, navigating the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the formation of the modern Turkish Republic. From his early work as a bank clerk to his tenure as the nation's third president, he occupied a central role in shaping Turkey's economic policies and its transition toward a multiparty political system.

Early Political Involvement

Born in 1883 at Umurbey, Bayar began his professional life in banking before joining the Committee of Union and Progress in 1907. He helped organize the group's infrastructure across Anatolia and established branches in Bursa and İzmir. By 1913, he was a participant in the Ottoman coup d'état and became deeply involved in nationalist economic policies during the final years of the empire.

Independence and Nation Building

Following the Armistice of Mudros, Bayar became a prominent figure in the Turkish resistance. He formed groups to oppose the annexation of İzmir and participated in the Battle of Aydın. After joining the Turkish Independence Movement in Ankara, he served as the Minister of the Economy and acted as an advisor during the Lausanne Peace Conference. In 1924, he founded İş Bankası, the first bank of the new republic.

Prime Minister and Democrat Party

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk appointed Bayar as Prime Minister in 1937 to oversee economic liberalization, a position he held until 1939. In 1946, he broke from the Republican People's Party to co-found the Democrat Party alongside Adnan Menderes, Fuat Köprülü, and Refik Koraltan. This move initiated Turkey's transition to a multiparty parliamentary system, leading to his election as president in 1950.

Presidency and Later Life

Bayar served as president for ten years until his government was ousted in a 1960 coup d'état. Prosecuted for treason during the Yassıada trials, he received a death sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment due to his age. He was released under a general amnesty in 1966. He spent his final years in Istanbul, passing away in 1986.

Fast facts

• Born: 16 May 1883, Umurbey
• Died: 22 August 1986, Istanbul
• President of Turkey: 1950–1960
• Prime Minister of Turkey: 1937–1939
• Buried: Bursa Province
• Languages: Turkish
• Award: Medal of Independence

Questions readers ask

What was the result of Bayar's trial after the 1960 coup?

He was sentenced to death for treason, but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to his advanced age.

What was Celâl Bayar's role in the formation of the Turkish banking sector?

Under a commission from Atatürk in 1924, he founded İş Bankası, which was established as the country's first national bank.

Achievements

• member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
• President of Turkey (1950–1960)
• Prime Minister of Turkey (1937–1938)
• Prime Minister of Turkey (1938–1939)
• Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1954
• Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
• Medal of Independence