Saeb Salam

Saeb Salam was born into a prominent Sunni patrician family in Beirut; his father Salim Ali Salam was a leading Ottoman parliamentarian and civic leader. Educated at the American University of Beirut, Saeb founded Middle East Airlines (MEA) in 1945, helping build Lebanon's commercial aviation sector.

Serving four times as Prime Minister between 1952 and 1973, Salam was renowned for his signature white carnation lapel and his moral leadership during political crises. In 1958, he formulated the legendary national reconciliation maxim 'La ghalib wa-la maghlub' (Neither victor nor vanquished) and 'One Lebanon, not two', advocating moderation and civil coexistence until his death at ninety-five.