Calouste Gulbenkian
| Calouste Gulbenkian | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian 23 March 1869 Scutari, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (present-day Üsküdar, Istanbul, Turkey) |
| Died | 20 July 1955 (aged 86) Lisbon, Portugal |
| Resting place | St. Sarkis Armenian Church, London |
| Citizenship | British (from 1902) Ottoman |
| Alma mater | King's College London |
| Occupation | Petroleum engineer |
| Years active | 1895–1955 |
| Organization | Turkish Petroleum Company Iraq Petroleum Company |
| Spouse(s) | Nevarte Essayan |
| Children |
Nubar Sarkis (1896–1972) Rita Sivarte (1900–1977) |
| Parent(s) | Sarkis and Dirouhie Gulbenkian |
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Calouste Gulbenkian (/kæˈluːst ɡʊlˈbɛŋkiən/, Western Armenian: Գալուստ Կիւլպէնկեան; 23 March 1869 – 20 July 1955) was a British businessman and philanthropist of Armenian origin. He played a major role in making the petroleum reserves of the Middle East available to Western development and is credited with being the first person to exploit Iraqi oil. Gulbenkian travelled extensively and lived in a number of cities including Constantinople, London, Paris, and Lisbon.
Throughout his life, Gulbenkian was involved with many philanthropic activities including the establishment of schools, hospitals, and churches. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, a private foundation based in Portugal, was started at his bequest in 1956 and continues to promote arts, charity, education, and science throughout the world. It is now among the largest foundations in Europe. By the end of his life he had become one of the world's wealthiest individuals and his art acquisitions one of the greatest private collections.
Gulbenkian's family is believed to be descendants of the Rshtunis, an Armenian noble family centered around Lake Van in the 4th century AD. In the 11th century, the Rshtunis settled in Kayseri, taking the name Vart Badrik, a Byzantine noble title. With the arrival of the Ottoman Turks, the Turkish equivalent of the name, Gülbenk, was adopted. The family had established themselves in the town of Talas and lived in the region until the mid-1800s, when they ultimately moved to Constantinople. Their property in Talas was ultimately confiscated and is currently owned by the Turkish government.
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