Hassan Pirnia

Hassan Pirnia
Prime Minister of Iran
In office 20 May 1918 – 2 August 1918
Monarch	Ahmad Shah Qajar
Preceded by	Abdol Majid Mirza
Succeeded by	Momtaz os-Saltaneh
In office 20 August 1918 – 16 October 1920
Monarch	Ahmad Shah Qajar
Preceded by	Momtaz os-Saltaneh
Succeeded by	Fathollah Khan Akbar
In office 20 January 1922 – 11 June 1922
Monarch	Ahmad Shah Qajar
Preceded by	Malek Mansur Mirza Shao es-Saltaneh
Succeeded by	Ahmad Qavam
In office 15 June 1923 – 28 October 1923
Monarch	Ahmad Shah Qajar
Preceded by	Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
Succeeded by	Rezā Shāh
Personal details
Born	1871 Nain, Iran
Died	1935 Tehran, Iran
Political party	Constitutional Movement

Hassan Pirnia (1871–1935) was a prominent politician of twentieth century Iran. He held a total of twenty-four posts during his political career, serving four times as Prime Minister of Iran. He is also credited as being one of the founders of the Society for the National Heritage of Iran.

Early life

Pirnia was the son of Mirza Nasrullah Khan, a Prime Minister during the Qajar era.

Career

Pirnia became Iran's Minister to the Russian Court before returning to Iran, where he founded a school for political science in Tehran in 1899. Upon his father's death, he assumed the title of Moshir al Dowleh, playing an important role in drafting the Persian Constitution of 1906. He was created an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George by the British crown in 1907. After stints as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice, Hassan Pirnia served four times as Prime Minister between 1915 and 1924.

Books and cultural contributions

Following his retirement, he published a three-volume olympian history of pre-Islamic Iran, entitled Tarikh-e Iran-e Bastan (History of Ancient Iran). Pirnia's other significant contributions to the cultural life of Iran included helping to set up an Institute for the Preservation of National Heritage along with Abdolhossein Teymourtash and Mohammad Ali Foroughi in 1921.

Hassan Pirnia's younger brother, Hossein (1875–1948), was also a notable statesman during this period. Known as Mo'tamen al Molk, he served as Minister of Education in 1918 and Minister without portfolio in 1920. He was elected to every session of the parliament (Majlis) from 1906 and served as its Speaker for many years. In 1943 he was elected from Tehran to the 14th session of Parliament but declined to serve.

Sources

• Ghani, Cyrus, Iran and the Rise of Reza Shah: From Qajar Collapse to Pahlavi Power (I.B. Tauris: London, 2000). ISBN 1-86064-629-8
• Jane Lewisohn, Flowers of Persian Song and Music: Davud Pirniā and the Genesis of the Golhā Programs, Journal of Persianate Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 79–101 (2008)