Henri Philippe Pharaoun
Encyclopedia
Henri Philippe Pharaoun (1901 - August 6, 1993), was a Lebanese
art collector, sportsman, politician and businessman. He played a crucial role in securing Lebanon's independence from France and served as foreign minister
and other Cabinet positions. He is also remembered as a champion of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
merchant in Alexandria
, Egypt
. Four years later his family moved to Beirut, where he was educated in missionary schools. He attended college in Switzerland, and received a law degree at Lyons University in France. Pharaoun married Nawali Kassar, heiress of a wealthy Palestinian family from Jaffa
, in 1922, while he was national tennis champion of Lebanon. They had one son, Naji.
For many generations the honorary-consuls to the imperial court in Vienna
and the Austro-Hungarian Empire came from his family. He founded the "Austro-Lebanese Association of Friendship".
Probably the richest man in Lebanon during much of his lifetime, he helped to found independent Lebanon and designed the Lebanese flag, which in its colors looks similar to the red-white-red Flag of Austria
. Known as a Mediterranianist who encouraged cooperation between Christians and Muslims, Pharaoun opposed the pan-Arabist intentions of Riad El-Solh and helped temper the power of the Arab League
. He served in the Lebanese Parliament from 1943 to 1946, and then as the Lebanese foreign minister
intermittently from 1945 to 1947. After this he retired from politics to focus on business interests. During the Lebanese Civil War
of 1975-1990 Pharaoun took no side, preferring instead to broker peace between the warring factions.
His business interests included Bank Pharoun and Shiha, both of which he founded. During the 1950s and 1960s he owned the world's biggest racing stable of Arabian horses.
Pharaoun was murdered in his bedroom at the Carlton Hotel in 1993. He was stabbed 16 times; his driver and bodygard was also found stabbed to death at the scene. Police suspected robbery as a likely motive. A man formerly employed by Pharaoun as a bodyguard was arrested for his murder.
One of their palaces in Beirut was one of the landmarks of that city, and was partly destroyed during the civil war and later sold to the Saudi royal family.
His former Beirut residence is now the Robert Mouawad Private Museum, housing a collection of Arab, Greek and Byzantine antiquities. During his lifetime Pharaoun gained an international reputation as a collector of art and antiquities, many of which he amassed at the mansion located at Beirut's Green Line
. According to the New York Times, the residence is a "palace [which] resembles a Gothic castle with a hodgepodge of Greek and Roman statues and sarcophaguses in the walled garden."
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
art collector, sportsman, politician and businessman. He played a crucial role in securing Lebanon's independence from France and served as foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
and other Cabinet positions. He is also remembered as a champion of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
Biography
Pharaoun was born the son of a wealthy Melkite CatholicMelkite Greek Catholic Church
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See as part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Melkites, Byzantine Rite Catholics of mixed Eastern Mediterranean and Greek origin, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, Syria, of...
merchant in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Four years later his family moved to Beirut, where he was educated in missionary schools. He attended college in Switzerland, and received a law degree at Lyons University in France. Pharaoun married Nawali Kassar, heiress of a wealthy Palestinian family from Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, in 1922, while he was national tennis champion of Lebanon. They had one son, Naji.
For many generations the honorary-consuls to the imperial court in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and the Austro-Hungarian Empire came from his family. He founded the "Austro-Lebanese Association of Friendship".
Probably the richest man in Lebanon during much of his lifetime, he helped to found independent Lebanon and designed the Lebanese flag, which in its colors looks similar to the red-white-red Flag of Austria
Flag of Austria
The flag of Austria has three equal horizontal bands of red , white, and red.The Austrian triband is the second-oldest flag in use at least since 1230, after the Danish flag .- Origins :...
. Known as a Mediterranianist who encouraged cooperation between Christians and Muslims, Pharaoun opposed the pan-Arabist intentions of Riad El-Solh and helped temper the power of the Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
. He served in the Lebanese Parliament from 1943 to 1946, and then as the Lebanese foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
intermittently from 1945 to 1947. After this he retired from politics to focus on business interests. During the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
of 1975-1990 Pharaoun took no side, preferring instead to broker peace between the warring factions.
His business interests included Bank Pharoun and Shiha, both of which he founded. During the 1950s and 1960s he owned the world's biggest racing stable of Arabian horses.
Pharaoun was murdered in his bedroom at the Carlton Hotel in 1993. He was stabbed 16 times; his driver and bodygard was also found stabbed to death at the scene. Police suspected robbery as a likely motive. A man formerly employed by Pharaoun as a bodyguard was arrested for his murder.
One of their palaces in Beirut was one of the landmarks of that city, and was partly destroyed during the civil war and later sold to the Saudi royal family.
His former Beirut residence is now the Robert Mouawad Private Museum, housing a collection of Arab, Greek and Byzantine antiquities. During his lifetime Pharaoun gained an international reputation as a collector of art and antiquities, many of which he amassed at the mansion located at Beirut's Green Line
Green Line (Lebanon)
The Green Line was a line of demarcation in Beirut, Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War from 1975 to 1990. It separated the mainly Muslim factions in West Beirut from the Christian Lebanese Front in East Beirut. The appellation refers to the coloration of the foliage that grew because the space...
. According to the New York Times, the residence is a "palace [which] resembles a Gothic castle with a hodgepodge of Greek and Roman statues and sarcophaguses in the walled garden."