Mohammed Daoud Khan was a prominent Afghan statesman who served as the first President of Afghanistan from 1973 to 1978. A member of the Barakzai dynasty, he previously served as Prime Minister from 1953 to 1963 during the reign of his cousin, King Mohammed Zahir Shah. In 1973, he overthrew the monarchy in a bloodless coup and established the Republic of Afghanistan, with himself as its authoritarian leader. His presidency ended tragically when he was overthrown and assassinated during the Saur Revolution, which led to the establishment of a communist government.