Charles Debbas

Charles Debbas (Arabic: شارل دباس‎) (16 April 1885 – 7 November 1935) was an Eastern Orthodox Lebanese political figure.[1] He was the first President of Lebanon (before independence) and served from September 1, 1926 till January 2, 1934, under the French Mandate of Lebanon (known as Greater Lebanon). He also served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon from January 1934 to October 1934.[2]

His Excellency

Charles Debbas
شارل دباس
1st President of French Mandate of Lebanon
In office
1 September 1926 – 2 January 1934
Succeeded byAntoine Privat-Aubouard (acting)
Personal details
Born(1885-04-16)16 April 1885
Damascus, Ottoman Empire
Died7 November 1935(1935-11-07) (aged 50)
Paris, France

Personal background

Charles Debbas was born to a prominent Beiruti family in 1885. He studied law in Paris. He met Marcelle Burgart, a nurse by profession, in a hospital in Paris and married her on October 24, 1919 in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Professional background

He was appointed on October 20, 1920 Director of Judicial Services of Greater Lebanon in by General of the High Commissioner in Beirut Robert de Caix. During the period of the French mandate in Lebanon, he was appointed Minister of Justice, then president of the National Assembly, and finally first President of the Republic of Lebanon he was elected president in 1926, then re-elected in 1929 by 42 votes out of 44, he was kept at his post until January 1934 by the French mandate. Under his presidency, the disarmament of Greater Lebanon was decided, and he instituted the compulsory baccalaureate for the exercise of liberal professions. He was also Minister of Justice and President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1934.[3] In 1934, he delivered a letter of resignation[4] in order to resign from his presidential functions; he will be replaced by Habib Pacha El-Saad.[5]

Masonic activities

He was a member of Freemasonry, initiated in 1907 at the Masonic Lodge Le Liban located in Beirut under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient de France.

References
  1. Bidwell, Robin (2012). "Dabbas, Charles (1885-1935)". Dictionary Of Modern Arab History. Routledge. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-136-16291-6.
  2. (in Arabic)Republic of Lebanon - House of Representatives History
  3. "L'Armée d'Afrique : organe de liaison entre les officiers de réserve de l'Algérie, Tunisie et Maroc et leurs camarades de l'active". Gallica (in French). April 1929. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  4. "Bulletin mensuel ["puis" officiel] des actes administratifs du Haut Commissariat ["puis" administratifs de la Délégation]". Gallica (in French). 1934-02-01. p. 39. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  5. "Correspondance d'Orient : revue économique, politique & littéraire / directeurs : Chekri-Ganem, Dr Georges Samné". Gallica (in French). January 1934. p. 15. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
Preceded by
N/A		 President of Lebanon
September 1, 1926-January 2, 1934		 Succeeded by
Antoine Privat-Aubouard (acting)


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