# Camille Chamoun

_President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/camille-chamoun
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Camille Nimr Chamoun  (Arabic: كميل نمر شمعون, romanized: Kamīl Nimr Shamʿūn, pronounced [kaˈmiːl ʃamˈʕuːn]; 3 April 1900 – 7 August 1987) was a Lebanese politician and statesman who served as the 2nd president of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958. He was one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War and considered a za'im (political hegemon) in Lebanon.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 3 April 1900 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Deyr el-Qamar ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P19))
- **Died:** 7 August 1987 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P570))
- **Place of death:** Beirut ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Ottoman Empire; Lebanese Republic under French mandate ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; diplomat ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P106))
- **Political party:** National Liberal Party (1958–1987); Constitutional Bloc (1934–1958) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P102))
- **Education:** Saint Joseph University of Beirut ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P69))
- **Positions held:** Member of the Parliament of Lebanon (1968–1987); Member of the Parliament of Lebanon (1960–1964); President of the National-Liberal Party of Lebanon (1958–1985); President of Lebanon (23 September 1952 – 22 September 1958); Member of the Parliament of Lebanon (1934–1952) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Cedar‎; Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit; Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971#P166))

## About

Born in Deir al-Qamar, into the Maronite Chamoun family, Camille Chamoun was a nephew of Lebanese Prime Minister Auguste Adib Pacha. He studied at Saint Joseph University and initially pursued a career in law and journalism before being elected to the Parliament of Lebanon. He served as finance minister in 1938 and then as interior minister and minister of telegraph and post from 1943 to 1944 during Lebanon's first post-independence government. Chamoun was elected to the presidency of Lebanon in 1952.

During his presidency, Lebanon experienced an economic boom, with Chamoun promoting the banking and tourism sectors and pursuing trade deals with Arab neighbors and the United States. He initially sought to balance relations with the West and the Arab states, but sectarian divides increased during his rule, and he concentrated power around the presidency. He attempted to seek an unconstitutional second term, which culminated in the 1958 Lebanon crisis between Chamoun's supporters and Muslim-dominated Nasserites, during which Chamoun attained American military intervention. American mediation ended the crisis, with Chamoun finishing his term and being succeeded by General Fouad Chehab.

Chamoun remained politically active following the end of his presidency, forming the National Liberal Party, and continuing to serve in parliament and several future cabinets. During the Lebanese Civil War, he was one of the country's main Christian leaders, helping to create and lead the Lebanese Front. He…

## Questions

**When was Camille Chamoun born?**  
Camille Chamoun was born on 3 April 1900 in Deyr el-Qamar.

**What positions has Camille Chamoun held?**  
Positions held by Camille Chamoun include: Member of the Parliament of Lebanon (1968–1987); Member of the Parliament of Lebanon (1960–1964); President of the National-Liberal Party of Lebanon (1958–1985); President of Lebanon (1952–1958); Member of the Parliament of Lebanon (1934–1952).

**Where did Camille Chamoun study?**  
Camille Chamoun was educated at Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

## Related

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- [Saad Hariri](https://diginpl.com/people/saad-hariri)
- [Bechara El Khoury](https://diginpl.com/people/bechara-el-khoury)
- [Salim Al-Huss](https://diginpl.com/people/salim-al-huss)
- [Takieddin el-Solh](https://diginpl.com/people/takieddin-el-solh)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Camille Chamoun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Chamoun) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q365971](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365971) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Camille chamoun.jpg by Lebanese government, and published it as official portrait (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camille_chamoun.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Camille Chamoun, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Camille chamoun.jpg — Lebanese government, and published it as official portrait, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Camille Chamoun". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/camille-chamoun. Retrieved 7 November 2026.