Kahlil Gibran


Born Gibran Khalil Gibran on 6th January 1883 in the mountain village of Bsharri (Bet Sharre, the place of kings) in the area now calledNorthern Lebanon. The area is predominantly Christian and close to the beautiful and famous Holy Valley and Cedars of Lebanon.

He takes his forename from his father's middle name in accordance with tradition, his father's full name being Khalil Gibran Saad Youssef Gibran. His father had worked as an assistant in his uncle's pharmacy but after
accumulating gambling debts he is reduced him to working as an 'enforcer' for the local Ottoman administrator, a man named Raji Bey.

His mother - Kamila Rahmeh - has one child from a previous marriage and this is Butros (or Peter) who is six years Gibran's senior. In time the family will grow with the birth of his two younger sisters,
Mariana and Sultana.

Initially the family had been of reasonable means but are now impoverished, largely due to his fathers gambling, and as such, Gibran receives no formal education. Kamila's deep religious
convictions are instilled in him from an early age and the education he receives is provided by a local priest.

Recognising Gibran's inquisitive and active mind the priest takes to teaching him the Syriac and Arabic languages and also fundamental religious and biblical teachings. Through this informal teaching,

Gibran develops an interest in science, languages and history. In 1891 the family are left homeless when the authorities seize their property, the consequence of his father having been convicted and jailed for tax evasion and fraud. Whilst his father is in prison the family stay with relatives before emigrating to America in 1895. Although his father has been released from prison the previous year he chose to
remain in Lebanon.