Hailing from one of Beirut's oldest and finest families, Former Prime Minister and MP Rachid al-Solh passed away at the age of 88 Friday.

Al-Solh was appointed prime minister twice. His first term witnessed the beginning of the Lebanese civil war in 1975 and the second was in 1992.

Under his second term, the first post-Taef accord parliamentary elections were held.

He went to Frere Primary School and then pursued his education in al-Maqased High school.

He studied law at USJ then went on to kick start his career as a judicial assistant before being appointed judge in Baabda and in Beirut.

Running against Prime Minister Saeb Salam in 1964 and with the support of the Chehabism, al-Solh was elected lawmaker of Beirut.

Sharp and committed, al-Solh was mourned by all those close to him and all those who knew him as a man of power and authority.