Dr. Mahmoud Hessaby                      
 

Professor Doctor Mahmoud Hessaby was born in 1903 in Tehran. His parents were from the city of Tafresh. After four years in Tehran he left for Beirut. He started his formal schooling in Beirut at the age of 7, while the family was in a poor financial position and with the hardships of being far from his native land. At the same time, he learned religious instructions Persian literature with his devoted and well-read mother. Professor learned the holly Quoran by heart with deep belief. He was acquainted with the poems of Hafez, Boostan and Golestan, Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, Masnavi Molavi, and Monshaat of Ghaem magham.

The entry to high school coincided with the first world war and hence the French schools, had to close, therefore after two years he went to American college of Beirut, graduating with a Bachelor s degree of Art and science from the American college at the age of 17. He obtained his certificate of Biology, and Civil engineering degree while working as a draftsman and on constructions. He then studied a medical science, and obtained a B.A degree in Mathematics and Astronomy.

He continued his studies and as a graduate of the Engineering school of Beirut was admitted to the " Ecole Superieure d Electricite" and in 1925 graduated from this school. At the same time, he was employed by the French Electric Railway Company. He had a scientific mind and continued his research in Physics at the Sorbonne University and obtained his Ph.D in Physics from this University at the age of 25. He was well acquainted with the traditional Iranian music as well as the classical western music and played piano and violin skillfully.

He was active in sports and became swimming instructor and life guard. During his life professor Hessaby held various important scientific and cultural position.

He also founded many cultural and scientific centers. For example:

Founding the Highway Engineering school and teaching there from 1928

 

Survey and drawing of the first coastal road-map between Persian Gulf ports

 

Founding the "teachers college" and teaching there from 1928

 

Construction of the first radio-set in Iran (1928)

 

Construction of the first weather-station in 1931

 

Installation and operation of the first radiology center in Iran in 1931

 

Calculation and setting of Iranian time (1932)

 

Founding the first private hospital in Iran (Goharshad Hospital) in 1933

 

Writing the University charter and founding Tehran University (1934)

 

Founding the Engineering school in 1934 and acting as the dean of  that school until 1936 and teaching there from then on

 

Founding the faculty of science and acting as its dean from 1942 to 1948

 

Commissioned for the dispossession of British Petroleum Company during government of Dr. Mossadegh and appointed as the first general manager of the National Iranian Oil Company

 

Minister of Education in the cabinet of Dr. Mossadegh from 1951 to 1952

 

Opposing the contract with the consortium while in the senate

 

Opposing the membership of Iran in CENTO (Baghdad Pact)

 

Founding the Telecommunication Center of Assad-Abad in Hamedan (1959)

 

Writing standards charter for the standards Institute of Iran (1954) the

 

Founding the Geophysical Institute of Tehran University (1961)

 

Title of distinguished professor of Tehran University from 1971

 

Founding the atomic research center and atomic reactor at Tehran University

 

Founding the atomic Energy center of Iran, member of the UN scientific sub-committee of peaceful use of member of the international space committee (1981)

 

Establishment of Iran s space research committee and member of the international space committee (1981)

 

Establishment of the Iranian music society and founding the Persian language Academy

  He continued lecturing at University for 3 working generations, teaching 7 generations of students and professors. He spoke four vivant languages: French, English, German and Arabic and he also knew Sanskrit, Latin, Greek, Pahlavi, Avesta, Turkish and Italian which he used for his etymological studies.In the scientific field: 25 research papers, articles and books have been put to print by professor Hessaby.His theory of "Infinitely extended particles" is well-known among the world scientist. The medal of the commandeur de la legion d honneure Franc s greatest scientific medal, was awarded to him for his theories.

Professor Hessaby was the only Iranian student of professor Albert Einstein, and during his years of scientific research he had meetings with well-known scientists such as Schroedinger, Born, Fermi, Dirac, Bohr ....and scholars such as Russel and Andre-Gide.

During the congress of " 60 years of physics in Iran" the services rendered by him were deeply appreciated and he was entitled " the father of physics in Iran". Professor doctor Hessaby died on 3rd of September 1992 at the University hospital of Geneva.

Dr.Hessaby had always wished that the final dwelling of his body would be his mother-land, Tafresh, Now this wish has come true. May his way be full of followers and his memory everlasting.

Information from Professor Hessaby Institute