Ahmad Ali Sepehr | |
---|---|
Born | Movarrekh Al Dowleh 1889 |
Died | 1976 (aged 86–87) Tehran,
Pahlavi Iran |
Resting place | Behesht e Zahra cemetery |
Nationality | Iranian |
Ahmad Ali Sepehr, also known as Movarrekh Al Dowleh, (1889–1976) was an Iranian historian and politician. [1] He held several government posts during both the Qajar and Pahlavi rule.
Sepehr was born in Tehran in 1889. [2] His grandfather was Mirza Taghi Khan Sepehr, a historian during the rule of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. [2]
Sepehr graduated from the Jewish Alliance school, a secondary education institution in Iran. [2] [3] He received higher education under French professors hired by Ahmad Shah Qajar. [2] Sepehr was fluent in several European languages, including German and French. [2]
During the Qajar era Sepehr worked as a translator at the customs office and became the head of the translation office. [2] In 1914 he was appointed first secretary of the German Embassy in Tehran, and with the outbreak of World War I he began to shape Germany's policies in relation to Iran. [2] At the same time, he chaired the board of directors of the Iran-Russia Fisheries Company. [2] He then emigrated from the country and returned after the end of the war. [2] In 1916 he was awarded the title of Movarrekh Al Dowleh due to his family's services to the history studies. [2] Sepehr then held the following positions: head of the North Tehran Registry Office, head of the Ministry of Finance, minister of state, and head of the Administrative Courts at the Ministry of Finance. [2]
In 1942 Sepehr was elected as a deputy and became acting minister of crafts and arts in the cabinet of Ali Soheili. [2] In the 1940s he was again made the chair of the Fisheries Board and played a significant role in the nationalization of fisheries. [2] Sepehr was one of the supporters of Ahmad Qavam who succeeded Mohammad Mosaddegh as prime minister. [4] Sepehr served as the minister of trade and industry in the first cabinet of Qavam in 1946. [5] However, Sepehr was fired by Qavam soon and was sent to exile in Kashan. [5]
Sepehr was the author of several books, including Iran in the Great War. [6] In 1918 Sepehr was awarded by Ahmad Shah the Order of the Lion and the Sun. [2] He died in Tehran in 1976 and was buried in the Beheste Zahra cemetery. [2]