Ahmad Ali Sepehr
Iranian historian and politician (1889–1976)
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Ahmad Ali Sepehr (Persian: احمدعلی سپهر; 1889 – 1976) also known as Movarrekh al-Dowleh (Persian: مورخالدوله) was an Iranian historian and politician.[1] He held several government posts during both the Qajar and Pahlavi eras.
Ahmad Ali Sepehr | |
|---|---|
| Born | Movarrekh al-Dowleh 1889 |
| Died | 1976 (aged 86–87) Tehran, Pahlavi Iran |
Resting place | Behesht-e Zahra |
Early life and education
Sepehr was born in Tehran in 1889.[2] His grandfather was Mohammad Taqi 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]
Career
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 study of history.[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]
Work, recognition and death
Sepehr was the author of several books, including Iran in the Great War.[6] In 1918, he 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 Behesht-e Zahra cemetery.[2]