Death of Amir Kabir · Amir Kabir

Culture of origin: Iranian · Historical

Holiday sources: Iran

Mirza Taghi Khan Farahani, known as Amir Kabir, was chief minister to Naser al-Din Shah in the first three years of his reign and is widely considered Iran's first reformer. He founded Iran's first centre of higher education, the Dar ul-Funun, and the country's second Persian-language newspaper, and banned bribery and the torture of prisoners. Exiled to Fin Garden in Kashan, he was murdered on the Shah's order.