Father of the Nation is a term used by many countries to describe a political or symbolic leader who was one of the most influential founding fathers of the nation. He may also be a key figure from the nation's history whose perceived heroism and moral authority made him in the public's eyes worthy of respect, indeed often veneration. The Father of the Nation is almost always a highly respected national figure and a source of patriotic inspiration. His image is often elevated to that of a national symbol is commonly featured on banknotes, stamps, and other national memorabilia. Compare the Roman honorific pater patriae. In some countries, a cult of personality may be associated with the Father of the Nation. Founding Fathers are persons instrumental not only in the establishment (founding) of a political institution, but also in the origination of the idea of the institution. ... Defense of the homeland is a commonplace of military patriotism: commemorating the students at the École Polytechnique, Paris, 1814 Patriotism denotes positive attitudes by a person to their own nation, to its national homeland, its culture, its members, and to its interests. ... National symbols are symbols of states, nations and countries in the world. ... A £20 Ulster Bank banknote. ... A stamp is a distinctive mark or impression made upon an object, for instance those made on a piece of paper and used to indicate the prepayment of a fee or tax. ... Pater Patriae (pl. ... Josef Stalin is often credited with creating the first modern-day cult of personality. ...

George Washington

While many states have held a 'father of the nation' in continuing highering respect since their founding, others have adopted and then abandoned some numerous figures throughout their history. Joseph Stalin was seen by millions during his period of control in the Soviet Union as the national father-figure, an image augmented deliberately by images released of him in the pose of a father or grandfather patting children on their head. Such was his esteem that a wave of suicides was recorded when his death was announced, with people suggesting that life without Stalin to guide them was unthinkable. Within a few years however, when his successors revealed the truth about Stalin's reign of terror, his popularity plummeted and his body was removed from the mausoleum where it had been laid alongside Lenin. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (381x621, 47 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: George Washington Father of the Nation Lansdowne portrait Washington Administration ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (381x621, 47 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: George Washington Father of the Nation Lansdowne portrait Washington Administration ...   Joseph Stalin? (December 21, 1879 – March 5, 1953) was the leader of the Soviet Union from mid-1920s to his death in 1953 and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922-1953), a position which had later become that of party leader. ... A mausoleum is a large and impressive tomb, usually constructed for a deceased leader. ... Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин   listen?), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) (April 22 (April 10 (O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a Russian revolutionary, the leader of the Bolshevik party, the first Premier of the Soviet Union, and the main theorist of Leninism, which he described as an adaptation of Marxism to...

Similarly, Eamon de Valera in Ireland was seen as the father of the nation up to his death in 1975. However in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s his reputation too underwent a re-evaluation, with the public moving away from their unfettered enthusiasm for 'deV' and his achievements and instead focusing interest on leaders like Michael Collins whom de Valera in his lifetime had tried to sideline. Eamon de Valera (born Edward George de Valera, Irish name Éamonn de Bhailéara (October 14, 1882 – August 29, 1975), was an Irish politician, best known as a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and the Republican anti-Treaty opposition in the... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ... Saddam Hussein shortly after his capture Major controversy over U.S. presidential election, 2000 September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New Yorks World Trade Center and Virginias Pentagon killing almost 3000 people. ... Michael Collins (Irish name Micheál Ó Coileáin; October 16, 1890 – August 22, 1922), an Irish revolutionary leader, served as Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, as a member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, as Chairman of the Provisional Government and as Commander-in...

Sun Yat-sen is officially the Guófù (國父, Father of the Nation) in the Republic of China (now on Taiwan). The term is not used for Mao Zedong in the People's Republic of China; when it is used in mainland China it (unofficially) refers to Sun instead. Sun Yat-sen (November 12, 1866 – March 12, 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary leader and statesman who is considered by many to be the Father of Modern China. He had a significant influence in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and establishment of the Republic of China. ... National motto: None Official language Mandarin Chinese Capital and largest city Taipei President Chen Shui-bian Premier Frank Hsieh Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 138th 35,980 km² 2. ... Mao Zedong (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976; Simplified Chinese: 毛泽东; Traditional Chinese: 毛澤東; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Mao Tse-Tung) was the chairman of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 1943 and the chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from 1945 until his death. ... In this map of China, the light-coloured areas represent Mainland China, while yellow coloured area refers to Taiwan. ...

The deposed King of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah has been called "Father of the Nation" by current President Hamid Karzai, in some sense a compromise with those wishing to restore the monarchy; and a 2003 draft constitution in fact explicitly awarded this title to Zahir Shah. Mohammed Zahir Shah (born October 16, 1914) was the last King of Afghanistan from 1933 to 1973. ... Hamid Karzai, (Pushtu: حامد کرزي Dari: حامد کرزی) (born December 24, 1957) is the current and first democratically elected President of Afghanistan (since December 7, 2004). ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Some of the best-known "fathers of the nation" are:

• Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938) of Turkey
• Simón Bolívar (1783–1830) of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela
• Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) of India
• Miguel Hidalgo (1753–1811) of Mexico
• Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876–1948) of Pakistan
• Jomo Kenyatta (1891–1978) of Kenya
• Genghis Khan (died 1227) of Mongolia
• Sir John A. Macdonald (1815–1891) of Canada
• Nelson Mandela (born 1918) of South Africa
• José Martí (1853–1895) of Cuba
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975) of Bangladesh
• Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972) of Ghana
• Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925) of China
• George Washington (1732–1799) of the United States
• Saad Zaghlul (1857–1927) of Egypt

Some figures who are not as well known outside their home countries include: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (19 May 1881–10 November 1938), until 1934 Mustafa Kemal (مصطفى كمال in the Arabic script), Turkish army officer, revolutionary, and anti-imperialist statesman, was the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. ... Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (July 24, 1783 – December 17, 1830) was a South American revolutionary leader. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी, Gujarati મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી) was the national leader who brought the fight for Indias independence from British colonial rule to the highest moral standards, empowered by tens of millions of common Indians and ultimate success. ... Statue of Miguel Hidalgo, Coyoacán, DF Don Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla (8 May 1753 – 30 July 1811) was the chief instigator of Mexicos war of independence against Spain. ... office: 1st Governor-General of Pakistan Term of office: August 14, 1947 – September 11, 1948 Succeeded by: Khawaja Nazimuddin Date of birth: December 25, 1876 Place of birth: Wazir Mansion, Karachi Wives: Emibai, Rattanbai Petit Children: daughter Dina Date of Death: September 11, 1948 Place of Death: Karachi Political party... Jomo Kenyatta (October 20, 1892?–August 22, 1978) was an African politician, the first Prime Minister (1963–1964) and President (1964–1978) of an independent Kenya. ... For the German pop band, see Dschinghis Khan Genghis Khan (c. ... The Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald, KCMG, GCB, QC, PC (January 11, 1815 – June 6, 1891) was the first Prime Minister of Canada from July 1, 1867 – November 5, 1873 and October 17, 1878 – June 6, 1891. ... President Nelson Mandela, 1995-1999 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela IPA: [nÉ›lsÉ™n roliɬaɬa mandÉ›la], Order of Merit|OM Order of Canada|OC, (born 18 July 1918])was the first democratically-elected President of South Africa. ... José Julián Martí y Pérez (January 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895) was a leader of the Cuban independence movement as well as an esteemed poet and writer. ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; known as Bangabandhu to his people in Bangladesh. ... Kwame Nkrumah (September 21, 1909 - April 27, 1972) was a Ghanaian politician and one of the most influential founders of Pan-Africanism. ... Sun Yat-sen (November 12, 1866 – March 12, 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary leader and statesman who is considered by many to be the Father of Modern China. He had a significant influence in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and establishment of the Republic of China. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799) was an American planter, political figure, and military leader. ... Saad Zaghlul (also: Saad Zaglul, Sad Zaghlul Pasha ibn Ibrahim, etc. ...

• Tunku Abdul Rahman (1903–1990) of Malaysia
• José Gervasio Artigas (1764–1850) of Uruguay
• Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904–1996) of Nigeria
• Errol Barrow (1920–1987) of Barbados
• Barthélemy Boganda (1910–1959) of the Central African Republic
• Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1758–1806) of Haiti
• Jón Sigurðsson (1811–1879) of Iceland
• Kim Il Sung (1912–1994) of North Korea
• Prince Phetsarath (1890–1959) of Laos
• Norodom Sihanouk (born 1922) of Cambodia

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah (February 8, 1903 – December 6, 1990) usually known as the Tunku (a princely title in Malaysia), and also called Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) or Bapa Malaysia (Father of Malaysia), was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya... José Gervasio Artigas (June 19, 1764 - September 23, 1850) was a national hero of Uruguay and is sometimes called the father of Uruguayan independence. // His life Artigas was born in Montevideo in the Spanish colony of Banda Oriental which later become the republic of Uruguay. ... Nnamdi Azikiwe Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikwe, or, informally, as Zik, (November 16, 1904-May 11, 1996) was Nigerias first President. ... Errol Walton Barrow (January 21, 1920 June 1, 1987) was a Barbados politician. ... Barthélemy Boganda - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... Jean-Jacques Dessalines (September 20, 1758–October 17, 1806) was a leader of the Haitian slave rebellion and an Emperor of Haiti (1804–1806 under the name of Jacques I). ... Einar Jonssons statue of Jon Sigurdsson in Reykjavik. ... Kim Il-sung (April 15, 1912–July 8, 1994) was a Korean Communist politician and the ruler of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) from 1948 until his death. ... Prince Phetsarath Rattanavongsa was prime minister of Laos from 1942 to 1945, and was the first and last vice-king of the Kingdom of Laos. ... Time in office: April 24, 1941–March 3, 1955; November 20, 1991–October 7, 2004 (King from September 24, 1993) Predecessor: Sisowath Monivong (first time); Chea Sim (second time) Successor: Norodom Suramarit (first time); Norodom Sihamoni (second time) Date of Birth: October 31, 1922 Place of Birth: Phnom Penh His...

See also

• Pater Patriae
• List of people known as the father or mother of something