Fazlollah Dahesh, known as Ataolmolk, was born in Ordibehesht 1240 SH in Isfahan. He returned to Iran after being educated in industries in the University of Mumbai and, after his trip to Manchester, England, founded the first textile factory of Isfahan by the name “Vatan Factory.”
Some time after, in 1305 SH, he founded the first electricity company of Isfahan at Telefonkhaneh Alley, Darvazeh Dowlat, and so the first lamps of the Chehel-Sotoun Palace and its surrounding streets were lit by the Dahesh Factory.
At the beginning, these lights were on only a few hours per night and were far apart. The first streets of Isfahan to benefit from electric light were the Chaharbagh and its surrounding areas. Even so, candle and oil lamps were still not rendered obsolete.
In this way, with Ataolmolk’s tireless efforts, the industrial society of Iran underwent important changes. Dahesh passed away at 98 in 1338 SH and was buried in Isfahan’s Takht-e-Foulad Cemetery.
