Emir Farid Chehab Collection

Emir Farid Chehab was born in Hadeth, Mount Lebanon approximately 28 February 1908 (dates on birth certificates vary between 1905 and 1911) to the Emira Maryam Chehab (granddaughter of the last ruler of Lebanon, Emir Bashir III) and to Emir Hares Sayyed Ahmad Chehab (Honorary member of the Turkish Parliament). 

After passing the Police Commissioner's exam, Chehab was appointed Head of the Investigation Section of the Beirut Police Department with the rank of Lieutenant. Later that year he would be promoted to Head of the Morals and Anti-Gambling Department.

Chehab's success fighting the gambling industry in Beirut earned him the ire of the Lebanese ruling elite and as a result was banished to Sidon in 1937. Two years later he was allowed to return and took up a position in the French Surete Generale's Counter Espionage Section. By December he was promoted to Head of the Anti-Communism Section.

After nearly 2 years as a political prisoner, Chehab was released by special request from President Bechara al-Khoury and reinstated to his former position at the Directorate of Police. Chehab had been arrested for alleged covert activities for the Germans by his political rivals in 1941. Despite being exonerated by a military tribunal after 6 months in solitary confinement, he was rearrested immediately after the tribunal and held for an additional 18 months.

Emir Farid Chehab is appointed Director General of the Judicial Police in Lebanon.

Following a series of events in Zahle that led to the loss of government control over the city, Emir Farid was able to intervene as a mediator and end the struggle peacefully.

Appointed Director of the Surete Generale in January, 1948, Chehab assumed control of the Anti-Communism Section two years later.

Emir Farid Chehab is appointed Director of Lebanon's Surete Generale with the rank of Director Extraordinary of the First Degree

Chehab resigned from the Surete Generale in September of 1958 and in January 1959 was granted the rank of ambassador and appointed Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Government of Ghana where he established Lebanon's first embassy to the African country.

Thanks to his success in establishing an embassy in Ghana, Chehab was accredited as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Government of Cameroon in addition to his responsibilities in Ghana to do the same.

Accredited as Minister plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Government Nigeria in addition to his responsibilities in Ghana.

Chehab is accredited as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary in Tunisia in addition to his responsibilities in Ghana and Nigeria.

Chehab is appointed as Lebanon's Ambassador to Cyprus

Shortly after reaching Lebanon's legal retirement age, Chehab retired from public service.

Emir Farid Chehab died in Beirut on February 5th, 1985.