Gürsel, Cemal

Gürsel, Cemal (jĕmäl` gürsĕl`), 1895–1966, Turkish army officer and political leader. He fought in World War I and in most of the military campaigns during the war of independence (1920–23). Gürsel remained in the army and in 1958 became commander of Turkish ground forces. A popular army figure, he led the coup of May, 1960, which overthrew Prime Minister Adnan Menderes (see also Turkey). Gürsel resisted attempts to continue military rule and was elected president of the republic in 1961. Because of illness, he was succeeded as president by Cevdet Sunay in Mar., 1966, and died in September.

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Gürsel, Cemal 

Born 1895 in Erzurum; died Sept. 14, 1966, in Ankara. Turkish military and government figure. General.

Gürsel headed the supreme organ of power, the National Unity Committee, formed by the military leaders of the coup d’etat of May 27, 1960. Until the end of October 1961 he was simultaneously Turkey’s head of state and of government, as well as being commander of the armed forces. He became president in November 1961. He was relieved of this post on Mar. 28, 1966, because of serious illness.