Fahri Korutürk

Fahri Sabit Korutürk (3 August 1903 – 12 October 1987) was a Turkish navy officer, diplomat and the sixth President of Turkey.

Biography
He was born in Istanbul, at Soğukçeşme Sokağı, a small street between Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia. He attended the navy cadet school in 1916, was graduated in 1923 and from the Naval Academy in 1933. Korutürk saw active service on cruisers and submarines and later travelled abroad as naval attaché in Rome, Berlin and Stockholm. In 1936, he participated in Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Turkish Straits as military advisor. He was made rear admiral in 1950 and commanded various units until he became admiral.

After his retirement in 1960 from the post of Commander of the Turkish Navy, Korutürk was appointed by the Head of State Cemal Gürsel as Turkish ambassador to the Soviet Union (1960-1964) and later to Spain (1964-1965). In 1968, President Cevdet Sunay appointed him member of the senate. On 6 April 1973, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey elected him the 6th President of the Republic of Turkey. During his term he presided over the 20 July 1974 Turkish Invasion of Cyprus after Archbishop Makarios III was ousted by the Greek officer-led Cypriot National Guard.

Korutürk served the constitutional term of seven years until 6 April 1980. Afterwards he became a permanent senator.

He married Emel Korutürk in 1944 and they had two sons and a daughter. His surname, Korutürk, was given to him by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Fahri Korutürk died in Moda, Istanbul. He was laid to rest in the Turkish State Cemetery in Ankara.

Works

 * İskajerak Deniz Muharebesi hakkında bir konferans (A Conference on the Battle of Skagerrak)