William Knox D'Arcy

businessman

William Knox D'Arcy was a British investor and entrepreneur known for his pivotal role in the development of the oil industry in Iran. In 1901, he obtained a concession from the Iranian government to explore and develop oil resources, leading to the discovery of oil in 1908 at Masjed Soleyman. This discovery marked the beginning of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which would later become British Petroleum (BP). D'Arcy's efforts significantly influenced the global oil market and the geopolitics of the Middle East, as Iran emerged as a key player in the energy sector.