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Gulbenkian, Calouste Sarkis

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International Encyclopedia of Civil Society

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Once known as the richest man in the world, Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, of Armenian origin, was throughout his life a patron of the arts and welfare work, as well as an avid art collector. He would establish a foundation through his will that would hold his name and art and book collections, as well as a mission focused on his four intended purposes for it – charity, art, education, and science. Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is among the biggest foundations in Europe.

Basic Biographical Information

Born in 1869 in Istanbul, Calouste Gulbenkian belonged to an ancient Armenian family of provincial bankers. He first studied in Calcedonia, then moved to France where he improved his French at high school, and in 1891 he completed his degree in engineering at King’s College in London. He was then sent by his father on a journey around the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, where he was able to visit an oil field, and which would be the start of his professional career. He would prove...

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References

  • Conlin, J. (2019). Mr five per cent: The many lives of Calouste Gulbenkian, the world’s richest man. London: Profile Books.

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  • Tchamkerten, A. (1999). Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian: The man and his achievements, 1869–1999. Lisbon: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian – Serviço das Comunidades Arménias. www.gulbenkian.pt.

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Further Reading

  • Barreto, A. (coord.). (2007). Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian – cinquenta anos, 1956.2006 (Vols. I and II). Lisbon: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

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  • Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. (2008). Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian 1956–2006 Factos e Números. Lisbon: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

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  • Teixeira, A. J. (2008). Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – The rich legacy of an Armenian visionary. In N. MacDonald & L. Tayart de Borms (Eds.), Philanthropy in Europe – A rich past, a promising future. London: Alliance Publishing Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal

    Raquel Campos Franco

Authors
  1. Raquel Campos Franco
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Correspondence to Raquel Campos Franco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Regina A. List

  2. Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Helmut K. Anheier

  3. Schar school, George Mason University, ARLINGTON, VI, USA

    Stefan Toepler

Section Editor information

  1. Hamburg, Germany

    Regina A. List

  2. University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Helmut K. Anheier

  3. Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Germany

    Helmut K. Anheier

  4. Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, USA

    Stefan Toepler

  5. Center for the Study of Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation

    Stefan Toepler

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Franco, R.C. (2020). Gulbenkian, Calouste Sarkis. In: List, R., Anheier, H., Toepler, S. (eds) International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99675-2_220-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99675-2_220-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-99675-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-99675-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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