Morteza Gholi Khan (Sani ol-Dowleh) (; 1856–1911) was a leader of the Persian Constitutional Revolution and the first Chairman of the first Majlis. A member of the Hedayat family, he served as the Minister of Finance of Iran for seven months. He also proposed the creation of Iran's first museum in 1906.
Life At the turn of the century, Iran was being plundered out of its resources by the British and Russians who had also obtained taxation rights on all significant sources, keeping the county and some of the ruling class under effective financial control. Realizing that a country cannot be independent without self sufficiency and monetary independence, he initiated financial reforms and the overhaul of the taxation system, including bringing in the American adviser William Morgan Shuster. He also proposed the creation of Iran's first museum, the National Museum of Iran. His activities with regards to his financial reforms led to his assassination by the Russians on 6 February 1911. His assassination was conducted by two Georgian nationals in Tehran.According to Shuster (p. 48), "Five days later [measured from February 1st] the Persian Minister of Finance, Saniu'd-Dawleh was shot and killed in the streets of Teheran by two Georgians, who also succeeded in wounding four of the Persian police before they were captured. The Russian consular authorities promptly refused to allow these men to be tried by the Persian Government, and took them out of the country under Russian protection, claiming that they would be suitably punished."See also: Mohammad-Reza Nazari, The retreat by the Parliament in overseeing the financial matters is a retreat of democracy, in Persian, Mardom-Salari, No. 1734, 20 Bahman 1386 AH (9 February 2008).
References
External links
Family background of Morteza Gholi Khan, Sani-ol Douleh