İsmail Hakkı Baltacıoğlu

İsmail Hakkı Baltacıoğlu (28 February 1886 – 1 April 1978) was a Turkish academic, journalist and intellectual. Until 1933 he was a faculty member at Darulfunün, later Istanbul University, of which he was the first rector following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. Following his dismissal from the university in 1933 he published and edited a cultural magazine entitled Yeni Adam and served as a deputy at the Turkish Parliament from Republican People's Party for two terms from 1942 to 1950. He is known as the father of the educational thought and practice of the Republic of Turkey.

Early life and education He was born in Cihangir district of Constantinople, Ottoman Empire, on 28 February 1886. He attended Darulfünun, precursor of Istanbul University, next year and received a degree in botany in 1908.

He continued to serve as a faculty member and taught sociology and ethics. He translated Quran into Turkish and published it in 1957. However, his sociological views were slightly different from theirs. His views were also influenced from the French philosopher Henri Bergson. He termed his approach as traditionalism.

Later years and death Baltacıoğlu continued to publish his magazine Yeni Adam which was closed after his death on 1 April 1978.