# David Ben-Gurion

_Israeli politician, Zionist leader, prime minister of Israel (1948–1953, 1955–1963) - (born1886–1973)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/david-ben-gurion
Last updated: 2026-10-07

> David Ben-Gurion was the primary national founder and first prime minister of the State of Israel. As head of the Jewish Agency from 1935, and later president of the Jewish Agency Executive, he was the de facto leader of the Jewish community in Palestine, and largely led the movement for an independent Jewish state in Mandatory Palestine.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 16 October 1886 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Płońsk ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P19))
- **Died:** 1 December 1973 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P570))
- **Place of death:** Ramat Gan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Russian Empire; Ottoman Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; trade unionist; Zionist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P106))
- **Political party:** National List (1969–1973); Rafi (1965–1968); Mapai (1930–1965); Workers of Zion (1905–1919) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P102))
- **Education:** Istanbul University Faculty of Law; University of Warsaw; Istanbul University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P69))
- **Spouse:** Paula Ben-Gurion ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P26))
- **Positions held:** Knesset member (17 November 1969 – 27 May 1970); Knesset member (23 January 1968 – 17 November 1969); Knesset member (22 November 1965 – 23 January 1968); Knesset member (14 July 1965 – 22 November 1965); Knesset member (4 September 1961 – 14 July 1965); Knesset member (30 November 1959 – 4 September 1961); Justice Minister of Israel (13 February 1956 – 7 January 1958); Prime Minister of Israel (3 November 1955 – 26 June 1963); Knesset member (15 August 1955 – 30 November 1959); Minister of Defense of Israel (21 February 1955 – 26 June 1963); Minister of Transport and Road Safety (14 August 1952 – 24 December 1952); Knesset member (20 August 1951 – 15 August 1955); Education Minister of Israel (19 May 1951 – 8 October 1951); Knesset member (14 February 1949 – 20 August 1951); Prime Minister of Israel (14 May 1948 – 26 January 1954); Minister of Defense of Israel (14 May 1948 – 26 January 1954); President of the Provisional State Council (14 May 1948 – 16 May 1948); general secretary (1921–1973) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P39))
- **Awards:** Bialik Prize; honorary doctor of Tel Aviv University; honorary citizen of Jerusalem ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610#P166))

## Questions

**When was David Ben-Gurion born?**  
David Ben-Gurion was born on 16 October 1886 in Płońsk.

**What positions has David Ben-Gurion held?**  
Positions held by David Ben-Gurion include: Knesset member (1969–1970); Knesset member (1968–1969); Knesset member (1965–1968); Knesset member (1965–1965); Knesset member (1961–1965).

**Where did David Ben-Gurion study?**  
David Ben-Gurion was educated at Istanbul University Faculty of Law, University of Warsaw, Istanbul University.

## Related

- [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://diginpl.com/people/benjamin-netanyahu)
- [Golda Meir](https://diginpl.com/people/golda-meir)
- [Shimon Peres](https://diginpl.com/people/shimon-peres)
- [Ariel Sharon](https://diginpl.com/people/ariel-sharon)
- [Yitzhak Rabin](https://diginpl.com/people/yitzhak-rabin)
- [Menachem Begin](https://diginpl.com/people/menachem-begin)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): David Ben-Gurion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ben-Gurion) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): डेभिड बेन-गुरियन](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A1_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q37610](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37610) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: David Ben-Gurion (D597-087).jpg by Fritz Cohen (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Ben-Gurion_(D597-087).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article David Ben-Gurion, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: David Ben-Gurion (D597-087).jpg — Fritz Cohen, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"David Ben-Gurion". DigiNepal. Last updated 7 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/david-ben-gurion. Retrieved 21 October 2026.