User:Onpoint12/Hassan Pirnia

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.

His father was Mirza Nasrullah Khan, a Prime Minister during the Qajar era. Educated in Russia and France, 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 Iranian Constitution in 1906 and 1907. After stints as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice, Hassan Pirnia served four times as Prime Minister between 1915 and 1924.

Following his retirement, he published a three-volume history of pre-Islamic Iran, entitled Tarikh-e Iran-e Bastan (History of Ancient Iran). Other contributions to the cultural life of Iran included helping to set up an Institute for the Preservation of National Heritage in 1922.

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.