'QATAR SUCCESSION'

Content

This file concerns the appointment of an heir to Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thanī, Ruler of Qatar, following the illness and death of his son and heir-apparent, Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Abdullāh Āl Thānī. Details include: Ḥamad's illness and his role in the settlement of the conflict over Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. (al-Zubārah) between Bahrain and Qatar in 1944; illnesses of both Shaikh ‘Abdullāh and Shaikh Ḥamad in June 1946; reports on the health of Shaikh ‘Abdullāh by Dr G F N Anderson, Medical Officer at Dukhan [Dukhān] for Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited during 1947 (folios 8-13); and the serious illness of Shaikh Ḥamad in May 1948 and his death on 27 May 1948.

After the announcement of Shaikh Ḥamad's death, there follows correspondence concerning the appointment of a successor, including: Shaikh ‘Abdullāh's announcement of his son, Shaikh ‘Alī bin ‘Abdullāh, as his successor (ff 27-30); information regarding the succession of Shaikh ‘Alī in the event of his death (ff 33 and 38); Shaikh ‘Abdullāh's request for His Majesty's Government to recognise Shaikh ‘Alī as his successor (ff 39 and 42-45); and attempts by Shaikh ‘Abdullāh to recover money from Shaikh Ḥamad's account with the Eastern Bank Limited, Bahrain, in 1949 (ff 40-41). Included within the file is a 'Genealogical Tree of the Ruling Family of Qatar' (ff 23-24).

Correspondents within this file include: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Bushire and later at Bahrain; the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain; Olaf Kirkpatrick Kruuse Caroe, External Affairs Department of the Government of India, New Delhi; Ernest Vincent Packer and Basil Henry le Riolet Lermitte, Petroleum Concessions Limited, Bahrain.

Extent and format

1 file (49 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. File notes appear at the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 51; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional incomplete foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 25-45; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/2/609

Former external reference(s)

Confidential File: 21/6

History of this record

Date(s)

18 Jun 1944-28 Jun 1949 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Related primary sources

The National Archives, Kew, FO 371/74944, Disturbances in Qatar. Abdication of the Shaikh. Code 91, file 10118

Subjects

DeathIllnessInheritance and succession

Places

Qatar

People & organisations

Emir of QatarPolitical Resident, Persian GulfIndian Political Service, External Affairs DepartmentPetroleum Concessions Limited, Manager, BahrainShaikh Ḥamad bin 'Abdullāh Āl Thanī

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Cite this record in your research

'QATAR SUCCESSION', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/609, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/node/9473> [accessed 28 November 2023]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x0003d0

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