Chehab, Fuad (1901–1973)

Lebanese soldier and president. He was educated at the French military academies of Damascus and St Cyr. He served in the army under the French mandate, becoming commander-in-chief on independence in 1946. During a break in his military career he was prime minister for six days during an emergency in September 1952. As president 1958–64 he restored stability to Lebanon, which had been shaken by the 1958 civil war.