His Excellency President Bechara El-Khoury
First President of the Republic Following its Independence Presidential Term: 21 September 1943 to 18 September 1952Profile:
Name: Bechara El-Khoury
Date and place of birth: 10 August 1890- 11 January 1964, Beirut (originally from Reshmaya, District of Aley)
Marital Status:Married to Laure Shiha, father of 3 children: Khalil, Michel, and Huguette.
Educational Background:
- School Education ( Beit Eddin School, Baabda, and the Jesuits' School in Beirut).
- Law Degree (Paris; 1909-1912)
Professional Experience and Political Career:
- Lawyer at the Office of Attorney of Emile Eddé
- Worked as a lawyer in Cairo after fleeing to Egypt in 1915 at the outbreak of WWI given that he was a member of the Lebanese Beirut Association and had signed an independence petition
- Returned to Lebanon in 1919 to pursue his law practice and a political career.
- Appointed Secretary General of the Administrative Board (1920), but resigned soon
- Founded with colleagues a political party named "Tarakkee Party" (Advancement Party).
- Appointed Chief Magistrate of the Court of Appeal in 1922
- Served as Deputy (Member of Parliament) in 1929, 1934 and 1937 (second session).
- Served as member of joint Parliamentary committees, including the Administration and Justice Committee as well as Public Works and Education committee.
- Appointed Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet of August Adeeb during the term of Charles Debbas in 1926,
- Appointed member of the Senate in 1926 after the death of Youssef Nammour.
- Appointed Prime Minister in 1927, 1928 and 1929
- Held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Education, Minister of Justice, and Minister of the Interior and Public Health and Emergency Care.
- Elected in 1930 Chairman of the Bar Association.
- Founded the Constitutional Bloc in 1932, the bloc was transformed into a political party in 1955.
- Elected President of the Republic on 21 September 1943.
- At the end of his term, the Constitution was amended, and his Presidency was renewed for a second term in 1948. However, he did not complete the second term and resigned on 18 September 1952.