Hassan Ali Mirza


Sayyid Hassan Ali Mirza Bahadur was the first Nawab of Murshidabad and the eldest son of Mansur Ali Khan, the last Nawab of Bengal. He succeeded Mansur Ali Khan as the Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad, after the title of Nawab of Bengal was abolished in 1880. At his death in 1906, he was succeeded by his son, Wasif Ali Mirza.

Life

Childhood

Hassan Ali was known as Burra Sahib in his childhood and he showed signs of extraordinary intelligence in his childhood. He was born on 25 August 1846 as the eldest son of Mansur Ali Khan by his one of his principal wives, Mehr Lekha Begum. He received his early lessons in English, Persian and Arabic.
He was educated at La Martiniere College in Lucknow. In 1865, he was sent to England to complete his education, where he was accompanied by his younger half brothers, Husain Ali Mirza Bahadur and Muhammad Ali Mirza Bahadur, in company with Colonel Herbert. The young prince was provided with all kinds of amusements. They were kept in a hotel in South Kensington. They also attende the then Prince of Wales, Edward VII's Levée, to which the right of private entry was granted to them. Hassan Ali met Robert Clive's granddaughter, Lady Williams and he received attention from all sides. He was also introduced to Her Majesty Queen Victoria by the state's secretary. They visited many places like Sandgate, Dover Castle, Southsea, Chester, Manchester and so on. While leaving London in December 1856 they traveled back to Calcutta through France, Italy and Malta, visiting the many famous and reputed cities like Paris, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples and so on. Hassan Ali's second foreign visit, rather English visit, was with his father, Mansur Ali Khan in March 1869.

Later years

On 16 February 1887 Hassan Ali was made the Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire and on 28 May 1887 theoriental titles of Ali Kadir, Ihtisham ul-Mulk, Raes ud-Daulah, Amir ul-Omrah and Mahabat Jang were conferred upon the Nawab. On 20 May 1890 Hassan Ali was made a Knight Grand Commander under a royal warrant, bearing the sign Manual of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. As the, title and post of the Nawab of Bengal was abolished Hassan Ali was appointed to the lesser title of Nawab of Murshidabad on 17 February 1882, which was confirmed in this title by the British in the year 1891.
The Nawab died on 25 December 1906 and was buried in Iraq as per his own wish.

Honours

Hassan Ali married:
Hassan Ali was survived by five sons and two daughters as follows: