Background
He was born in the Sanjak of Rhodes (now an island of Greece, then a part of the Ottoman Empire) in 1883. His father was Mehmet Galip, a judge and his mother was Münevver.
He was born in the Sanjak of Rhodes (now an island of Greece, then a part of the Ottoman Empire) in 1883. His father was Mehmet Galip, a judge and his mother was Münevver.
He completed his elementary education in Rhodes. According to his granddaughter Feyhan Oran, when Rhodes was occupied by Italy he escaped to İzmir where he finished his highschool education. In 1917 he graduated from the medicine school of İstanbul University.
By profession, he was a medical doctor. Then, he travelled to İstanbul to study medicine. During the Balkan War and the First World War he voluntarily served in the fronts.
Although he briefly served as an assistant in the faculty, he later on moved to Tavşanlı ( a town in West Anatolia) to participate in the Turkish War of Independence.
Towards the end of the war, he was appointed as the official doctor in Mersin. In 1925 he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Aydın Province.
He was always interested in politics. In İzmir and İstanbul he published bulletins and in Mersin he wrote in a local newspaper as the chief editors
He later on became the president of Turkish Language Association.
Between 19 September 1932 and 13 July 1933 he served as the Minister of National Education. (see 7th government of Turkey)
During his brief service period he initiated university reforms and planned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, an important museum in Ankara. He is also known as the creator of daily student oath.
While serving in the wars he had contracted tuberculosis.
On 5 March 1934, he died in Ankara. He was laid to rest in Cebeci Asri Cemetery.
Two streets one in Ankara and one in Nazilli (Aydın Province) are named after Reşit Galip. Two primary schools one in Zeytinburnu, İstanbul and one in Çankaya, Ankara are also named after him.
After he became the Member of Parliament he was elected as the member of Independence Tribunals.