The Origins of British Petroleum

The company that eventually became British Petroleum, or BP, began in Persia, now Iran, rather than in the country it is sometimes associated with in later parts of its history.

The company was founded in 1909 as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) following the discovery of oil in Persia.

The company’s early development took place during a period of major political change in the region.

At the time of the original oil discovery in 1908, Persia was ruled by the Qajar dynasty. Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajarhad been Shah until his death in 1907, followed by Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar, who ruled from 1907 to 1909.

In 1909, Ahmad Shah Qajar became Shah. He was the final ruler of the Qajar dynasty.

The political landscape changed in 1925, when Reza Shah Pahlavi came to power and established the Pahlavi dynasty. Reza Shah ruled until 1941, when he abdicated in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi would remain Shah until the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

The Company Changes Its Name

In 1935, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company changed its name to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC).

The company’s importance grew as petroleum became increasingly valuable to governments and industries around the world.

The relationship between the company and the Iranian government eventually became a major political issue.

In 1951, Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh nationalized Iran’s oil industry, challenging the position of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

The dispute became an international political crisis involving Iran, Britain and the United States.

In 1953, Mosaddegh’s government was overthrown in a coup backed by Britain and the United States.

The following year, in 1954, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company was renamed The British Petroleum Company.

That name would eventually become BP, one of the world’s largest energy companies.

The company’s early history is therefore closely connected to the development of the modern oil industry and the political struggles surrounding control of petroleum resources in Iran.