The Journey
Childhood and Youth
Fouad Abdallah Chehab was born on 19 March 1902, in Ghazir (Kesrwan, Lebanon), to a Christian Maronite family. He was the eldest son of Emir Abdallah Chehab and Sheikha Badiaa Hbeich. His family was of noble ancestry – His great-grandfather is no other than the eldest brother of the Great Emir Bachir II, ruler of Mount Lebanon from 1788 to 1840. But in 1907, …
Early Military Career
In December 1921, Fouad Chehab joined the French Military School in Damascus. His noble title of Emir helped him be selected, according to an old tradition that the French perpetuated for army officers. On 20 July 1923, he graduated from the Military School as a Lieutenant.
In 1926, he married Rose …
Army Command
From 1946 to 1958, Chehab dedicated himself to building the Army based on high values of discipline, efficient organization, ethics and national loyalty. He gradually reorganized and reinforced the various troops (Infantry, Artillery) and departments (Headquarters, Administration, Engineering, Communication and Intelligence), based on modern principles, and later …
Presidency
As the 1958 crisis deepened and the Chamoun mandate neared its end, Chehab was chosen as the consensus presidential candidate to succeed Chamoun in a salvatory mission to bring back unity and peace to the country that was facing a threatening predicament. He was widely trusted by the Muslims for his impartiality and now accepted by both …
Last Years
In 1964, Chehab, whose continuing presence at the head of the country was seen by many as the best option for stability and future reforms, categorically refused to allow the Constitution to be amended to permit him to run for a second presidential term. He backed the candidacy of Charles Helou, a diplomatic figure, who was elected as President. Chehab later became …
Death
Fouad Chehab
Foundation
Mission and Objectives
The main objective of the foundation is, as stated in the founding statutes: “To carry out intellectual and social activities to revive the values and the principles that President Chehab believed in and worked for.”
Highlights
Visit our 6 Photo Galleries
They include close to 200 photos
covering President Chehab’s various life periods,
military and public responsibilities,
and photos from his funeral and memorials.
Publication of Books by the foundation
- ‘Fouad Chehab’ by Dr Bassem el Jisr (Arabic, 1998)
- ‘Fouad Chehab’ by Dr Bassem el Jisr (English, 2018)
- ‘Fouad Chehab, the Builder of the Independent State- Testimonies’ (2005)
- ‘The Fouad Chehab Republic’ by Nicolas Nassif (2008)
