Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman who became the country's first President of the Republic of Tunisia from 25 July 1957 to 7 November 1987. Having worked as a lawyer in France in the 1920s, he returned to Tunisia and started being more active in the country's nationalist movement. In 1934, when he was 31 years old, he co-founded the Neo Destour that spearheaded the Tunisian movement for independence. After being arrested and exiled several times by the occupying French protectorate, he decided to both negotiate and put pressure on the Fourth Republic to put forward his nationalist agenda. Following the country's independence on the 20th of March 1956, Bourguiba puts an end to the monarchy, declares the republic of which he served as first president on 25 July 1957 and then focuses on building a modern Tunisian state. His main priorities upon taking over power included the improvement of the country's educational system, fighting gender inequality, developing the economy and maintaining a neutral foreign policy, which made him an exception among other Arab leaders. 

August 3rd, 1903 in Monastir  /  Died:   Apr 6th, 2000