Vosough od-Dowleh وثوقالدوله |
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Vosough od-Dowleh by Kamal-ol-molk, painted between 1900 and 1917
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16th Prime Minister of Iran | |
In office 29 August 1916 – 5 June 1917 |
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Monarch | Ahmad Shah Qajar |
Preceded by | Sepahsalar-e Tonekaboni |
Succeeded by | Mohammad-Ali Ala al-Saltaneh |
In office 8 August 1918 – 3 July 1920 |
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Monarch | Ahmad Shah Qajar |
Preceded by | Najaf-Qoli Samsam al-Saltaneh |
Succeeded by | Hassan Pirnia |
Personal details | |
Born | 1 April 1868 Tehran, Iran |
Died | 3 February 1951 (aged 82) Tehran, Iran |
Political party | Democrat Party |
Hassan Vossug ed Dowleh (Persian: حسن وثوقالدوله; 1 April 1868–3 February 1951) was Prime Minister of Qajar era Iran. He served as Prime Minister of Iran twice.
He was the older brother of Ahmad Qavam.
Hassan Vosough was born to one of Iran's most famous families. His father was named Mirza Ebrahim Motamed os-Saltaneh, and his grandfather was named Mohammad Qavam od-Dowleh. His ancestors had already served at high ranks under the Shah of Iran. Four members of his family were prime ministers: Ahmad Qavam, Mostowfi ol-Mamalek, Ahmad Matin-Daftari, and Mohammad Mosaddegh.
His mother died when he was at an early age, making his uncle take care of. His father worked as a financial manager in several provinces of Iran. Hassan received a good education through home teachers and spoke fluent French and English. As an adolescent, he accompanied his father on his travels, and took over the financial administration of Iranian Azerbaijan at a young age.
Vosough was elected in part as a founding member of the inaugural session of the first parliament of Iran in 1906 as deputy president of the Parliament. In the years of 1911-1915, Vosough was the first foreign minister and later finance minister of Iran. He later became prime minister from August 1916 to June 1917. After the abdication of the Russian king on 15 March 1917, hope came to Iran for an end of World War I, and withdrawal of Russian and British troops who invaded Iran in November 1914, and were occupying the country since that time.
Vosough played a leading role in the negotiations with the British Ambassador, which resulted in the Anglo-Persian Agreement that would end badly for the Iranians. Later it became known that Great Britain had bribed Vosough for this agreement. Although Vosough denied that he had enriched himself personally, and also offered to repay the money. His reputation was so damaged that he left Iran. He returned in 1926 to refund a portion of the bribe back to Iran.