Mevhibe İnönü
Encyclopedia
Mevhibe İnönü was the First Lady of Turkey from November 11, 1938 until May 22, 1950 during the presidency
of her husband İsmet İnönü
.
district in Istanbul
. Her father died of tuberculosis
as she was three years old. Shortly later, her sibling also died. Following the losses in the family, Mevhibe's mother moved with her to the grandfather's house, where she was raised then on. She left the secondary school after the first grade due to the family's decision.
She married on April 13, 1916 to Mustafa İsmet, an officer of the Ottoman Army
in the rank of colonel
. 21 days later, her husband left for the front at the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
to return home only after the conclusion of Armistice of Mudros
on October 30, 1918.
The couple's first son was born in 1919. Mustafa İsmet went in 1920 to Anatolia
to join the Turkish War of Independence
. As being the spouse of an officer, who was sentenced to death by the Ottoman administration for his involvement in the national resistance, Mevhibe moved together with her family members to her husband's hometown Malatya
, and remained there in the years of the struggle. Her son İzzet died in 1921 during that time.
The family settled in İzmir
shortly after its re-capture by the Turkish troops on September 9, 1922. During the negotiations
of the Treaty of Lausanne
that lasted eleven weeks from November 1922, she accompanied her husband in Switzerland, who was the head of the Turkish delegation. In 1924, she mothered her second son Ömer. That year, she moved into Pembe Köşk
in Ankara, which her husband purchased newly. The mansion became their home until 1975. In 1926, their third son Erdal, and then in 1930 the couple's daughter Özden was born. Mevhibe İnönü visited several places including Athens
, Moscow
and Rome
as the prime minister's spouse.
In 1934, the Surname Law
came into effect. Mustafa İsmet and his family members received the family name İnönü in honor of the First
and Second Battle of İnönü
, he was a victorious commander of.
on November 10, 1938, the founder and the first president of the Turkish Republic, İsmet İnönü was elected president the next day. Mevhibe İnönü moved then as the second first lady into Çankaya Köşkü
, the official presidential residence, where she stayed until May 22, 1950.
in Ankara.
President of Turkey
The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions...
of her husband İsmet İnönü
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
.
Early years
She was born on September 22, 1897 at Süleymaniye neighborhood of FatihFatih
Fatih is a municipality and district in Istanbul, Turkey that encompasses most of the peninsula coinciding with historic Constantinople. In 2009, the district of Eminönü, formerly a separate municipality located at the tip of the peninsula, was merged into Fatih...
district in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. Her father died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
as she was three years old. Shortly later, her sibling also died. Following the losses in the family, Mevhibe's mother moved with her to the grandfather's house, where she was raised then on. She left the secondary school after the first grade due to the family's decision.
She married on April 13, 1916 to Mustafa İsmet, an officer of the Ottoman Army
Military of the Ottoman Empire
The history of military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the years between 1300 and 1453 , the classical period covers the years between 1451 and 1606 , the reformation period covers the years between 1606 and 1826 ,...
in the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. 21 days later, her husband left for the front at the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
The Middle Eastern theatre of World War I was the scene of action between 29 October 1914, and 30 October 1918. The combatants were the Ottoman Empire, with some assistance from the other Central Powers, and primarily the British and the Russians among the Allies of World War I...
to return home only after the conclusion of Armistice of Mudros
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
on October 30, 1918.
The couple's first son was born in 1919. Mustafa İsmet went in 1920 to Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
to join the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. As being the spouse of an officer, who was sentenced to death by the Ottoman administration for his involvement in the national resistance, Mevhibe moved together with her family members to her husband's hometown Malatya
Malatya
Malatya ) is a city in southeastern Turkey and the capital of its eponymous province.-Overview:The city site has been occupied for thousands of years. The Assyrians called the city Meliddu. Following Roman expansion into the east, the city was renamed in Latin as Melitene...
, and remained there in the years of the struggle. Her son İzzet died in 1921 during that time.
The family settled in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
shortly after its re-capture by the Turkish troops on September 9, 1922. During the negotiations
Conference of Lausanne
The Conference of Lausanne was a conference held in Lausanne, Switzerland during 1922 and 1923. Its purpose was the negotiation of a treaty to replace the Treaty of Sèvres, which, under the new government of Kemal Pasha, was no longer recognised by Turkey....
of the Treaty of Lausanne
Treaty of Lausanne
The Treaty of Lausanne was a peace treaty signed in Lausanne, Switzerland on 24 July 1923, that settled the Anatolian and East Thracian parts of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. The treaty of Lausanne was ratified by the Greek government on 11 February 1924, by the Turkish government on 31...
that lasted eleven weeks from November 1922, she accompanied her husband in Switzerland, who was the head of the Turkish delegation. In 1924, she mothered her second son Ömer. That year, she moved into Pembe Köşk
Pembe Köşk
Pembe Köşk is an Ottoman orchard house in the Çankaya district of Ankara, Turkey, which is the city’s oldest villa and was the home of Turkish President İsmet İnönü from 1925 to 1973....
in Ankara, which her husband purchased newly. The mansion became their home until 1975. In 1926, their third son Erdal, and then in 1930 the couple's daughter Özden was born. Mevhibe İnönü visited several places including Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
as the prime minister's spouse.
In 1934, the Surname Law
Surname Law (Turkey)
The Surname Law of the Republic of Turkey was adopted on June 21, 1934. The law required all citizens of Turkey to adopt the use of surnames. Turkey's Christian and Jewish citizens were already using surnames, but Muslims generally did not use Western-style surnames...
came into effect. Mustafa İsmet and his family members received the family name İnönü in honor of the First
First Battle of Inönü
The First Battle of İnönü took place between 9 and 11 January 1921 near İnönü in present-day Eskişehir Province, Turkey during the Greco-Turkish War , part of Turkish War of Independence...
and Second Battle of İnönü
Second Battle of Inönü
The Second Battle of İnönü was fought between 26 and 31 March 1921 near İnönü in present-day Eskişehir Province, Turkey during the Greco-Turkish War , part of Turkish War of Independence...
, he was a victorious commander of.
First lady
Following the death of Mustafa Kemal AtatürkMustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
on November 10, 1938, the founder and the first president of the Turkish Republic, İsmet İnönü was elected president the next day. Mevhibe İnönü moved then as the second first lady into Çankaya Köşkü
Çankaya Köskü
Çankaya Köşkü or Çankaya Köşk is the official residence of the President of Turkey. It is located in the Çankaya district of Ankara, which lends its name to the palace. The name is sometimes used as a metonymy for the current president. The Çankaya Presidential Compound stretches over of land...
, the official presidential residence, where she stayed until May 22, 1950.
Personal interests
She was known as a polite and elegant woman. She co-founded in 1928 "Yardımsevenler Derneği" (Association of Humanists) and in 1949 "Türk Kadınlar Birliği" (Union of Turkish Women). In 1983, she and her children set up a foundation in honor of their late family father İsmet İnönü. She became the first chairperson of the board of trustees of the İnönü Foundation.Later years
Mevhibe İnönü lost on December 25, 1973 her husband, who played a long and important role in the Turkish politics. On July 20, 1991, she was hospitalized in the military hospital GATA in Ankara, where she died on February 7, 1992. She was laid to rest at the Cebeci Asri CemeteryCebeci Asri Cemetery
The Cebeci Asri Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Cebeci quarter of central Ankara, Turkey serving multiple religions. It was the first modern burial place in the capital city, and is the final resting place of many prominent figures....
in Ankara.