Kemal Ataturk was the founder of the Republic of Turkey. He was an army officer and revolutionary, who led the Turkish National Movement in the Turkish War of Independence and set up the provisional government at Ankara. His excellence in military campaigns and leadership led to victory in Turkish War of Independence. During his term as the President, he brought about various political, social and economic changes which transformed the country completely from being an Ottoman Empire to a modern, secular and democratic nation-state. It was for his relentless and selfless service to the nation that he was given the surname Ataturk which means 'Father of the Turks'. He died on 10 November 1938, at the age of 57, in the Dolmabahçe Palace, where he spent his last days.