Gürsel, Cemal [key], 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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