Paris Oil Concession Meeting
Meets Antoine Kitabgi in Paris and agrees in principle to seek a Persian petroleum concession.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
William Knox D'Arcy Biography and Timeline
Follow William Knox D'Arcy through 20 dated historical records for Great Britain.
William Knox D'Arcy, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
20Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1901–1917Years on this page
1901
British Diplomatic Support for Concession
Receives active diplomatic support from British minister Sir Arthur Hardinge during negotiations in Tehran.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
D'Arcy Oil Concession Signed
Receives a sixty-year concession granting extensive rights to explore, produce, transport and market Persian petroleum.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Northern Provinces Excluded from Concession
Accepts exclusion of five northern Persian provinces from the concession to reduce conflict with Russian interests.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Persian Royalty Terms Agreed
Agrees cash, share and sixteen-percent profit terms with the Persian government under the oil concession.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Persian Oil Concession Application
Develops an application for extensive petroleum rights in Persia after discussions with Kitabgi.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
1903
First Exploitation Company Formed
Forms the First Exploitation Company as petroleum exploration in Persia becomes a structured commercial venture.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
1905
Bakhtiari Agreement Signed
The D'Arcy syndicate concludes an agreement with Bakhtiari chiefs to facilitate operations in southwestern Persia.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Burmah Oil Financing Secured
Secures financial backing from Burmah Oil, enabling the costly Persian exploration programme to continue.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Concessions Syndicate Established
Reorganizes the struggling Persian venture through the Concessions Syndicate with substantial Burmah Oil support.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
1906
Bakhtiari Agreement Challenged
Faces Persian government refusal to recognize the syndicate's separate agreement with Bakhtiari chiefs.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
1908
Masjed Soleyman Third Well Drilled
The concession syndicate begins drilling a third well at Masjed Soleyman after failures at earlier sites.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Commercial Oil Struck at Masjed Soleyman
A major oil reservoir is struck at Masjed Soleyman, transforming the prospects of D'Arcy's Persian concession.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Exploration Withdrawal Considered
The syndicate comes close to abandoning Persian exploration as costs mount and success remains uncertain.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
Persian Gulf Export Plans Begin
Begins planning pipelines, refining and export facilities needed to commercialize the new Persian oil discovery.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1901-1917
1909
Anglo-Persian Oil Company Incorporated
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company is incorporated to develop the D'Arcy concession and the Masjed Soleyman discovery.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1909-1917
Burmah Oil Majority Holding
Burmah Oil takes the majority of ordinary shares in the newly formed Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1909-1917
D'Arcy Exploration Costs Compensated
Receives company shares compensating him for the heavy costs previously incurred in Persian exploration.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1909-1917
D'Arcy Joins Anglo-Persian Board
Becomes a director of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company after transfer of his concession interests.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1909-1917
1917
D'Arcy Directorship Ends
D'Arcy's death ends his directorship after the concession he pioneered has become a major oil enterprise.
Role range: 1901-1935 – 1909-1917
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.