‘Ala-us-Sultanah (Prince
Mirza Muhammad Ali Khan, G.C.V.O., 1905)
Born
about 1840. Was appointed Consul-General at Bombay shortly after the
Anglo-Persian War. He has also held same appointment in Baghdad. Was nominated
Governor of Gilan in 1880, and became Consul-General, Tiflis, in 1882. After
Nasir-ud-Din Shah’s return from Europe, in 1889, he was appointed Minister in
London, vice Malcom Khan, and held
the post until 1906 when he was recalled to Tehran and appointed, on September
13th, Minister for Foreign Affairs, which post he held until
September 13, 1907. He was dismissed and reappointed several times during the
parliamentary regime and held the post from October 2nd to October
26, 1907, and from June 7, 1908 to January 5, 1909. His eldest son Mirza Mahdi
Khan, Mushir-ul-Mulk acted for him as Secretary of Legation in London and
became Charge d’Affaires when his father left London in 1906. Was summoned to
Tehran 1904 and arrived in December with his son Mirza Husain Khan, Mu’in-ul-Vazarah.
Returned to his post in May 1905 with the temporary rank of Ambassador
Extraordinary in charge of presents and decorations from Muzaffar-ud-Din Shah
on this occasion created him “Prince” and bestowed upon him the military rank
of “Amir-i-Nuyan.” He was received in audience by His Majesty the King at
Buckingham Palace on June 16th, and presented His Majesty with an
autograph letter from Muzaffar-ud-Din Shah and a specially woven Persian
Carpet. He was, on this occasion, created G.C.V.O. Comes of a good Azarbaijan
family and is married to a sister of the late Amin-ud-Daulah. When Foreign
Minister he left affairs too much in the hands of subordinates. He is most
reserved and discreet. Speaks French. Was Minister for Foreign Affairs from
November 30th, 1909, to February 8th, 1910, when he was
dismissed in consequence of a vote of censure of the Majlis. Became Minister of
Education, Public Works, Mines, etc., March 11th, 1911. Represented
Persia at the Coronation of King George V (June 23rd, 1911).
Minister for Foreign Affairs June 13th, 1912. Has a son, a House
Surgeon in London, and another the Persian Minister in London. Prime Minister
all, 1913. Lethargie. The latest intelligence received by the Persian
Consul-General at Simla, is to the effect that His Highness Prince Muhammad Ali
Khan has taken over the port folio of Foreign Affairs at Tehran. It is excepted
that his appointment will be regarded favourably in British, diplomatic
circles, where he is well known. Prince Muhammad Ali Khan represented the interests
of his country in the Court of St. James for over 15 years and was twice
Minister Extraordinary in London, once in the reign of the late King Edward and
on the second time during the Coronation of His Majesty King George. He is also
now unknown in India, as he was Persian Consul-General with the Government of
India nearly 40 years ago. This is not the first time that the foreign affairs
of his country have been entrusted to Prince Muhammad Ali Khan. He has been
four times Minister of Foreign Affairs and once Minister of Education. He is
now nearly 80 years of age, and has four sons, three of whom were educated in
England. The eldest son is Persian Minister in London and the second son is a
house physician in a London Hospital.
Who's who in Persia. Calcutta: General Staff, India,
1916-1923, p. 21.
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