{"id":22207,"date":"2018-07-17T11:07:38","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T11:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/?p=22207"},"modified":"2026-11-09T02:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T02:16:28","slug":"american-hero-in-iranians-hearts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/american-hero-in-iranians-hearts\/","title":{"rendered":"Howard Baskerville: An American Martyr in Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Howard Baskerville and the Constitutional Revolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Howard Baskerville arrived in Tabriz in 1907 to teach science and English. Less than two years later he was drilling volunteers trying to break the siege of the city. His route from the classroom to the constitutionalist ranks began with colleagues and students at the American Memorial School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baskerville graduated from Princeton in 1907. Princeton Alumni Weekly<\/a> records that he majored in religion and took courses in jurisprudence and constitutional government with Woodrow Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baskerville\u2019s recruitment left a paper trail in Presbyterian mission records. The Presbyterian Historical Society\u2019s account of its holdings<\/a> identifies a recommendation written by Woodrow Wilson among the documents preserved there. These records place his journey to Tabriz within the mission network that employed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s first parliament opened in 1906. In June 1908, forces loyal to Mohammad Ali Shah bombarded the parliament building in Tehran. Tabriz resisted the shah, and the blockade cut off food supplies to the city.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"American\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
American Memorial School, Tabriz, group photograph dated 30 August 1923. Baskerville died in 1909 and cannot be among those pictured.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Encyclopaedia Iranica<\/a> identifies fellow teacher Mirza Hosayn Sharifzada as Baskerville\u2019s link to the constitutionalists. After Sharifzada was assassinated in 1908 and hunger spread during the siege, Baskerville resigned and joined the defenders.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Men
Historical photograph associated with the Fowj-e Nejat volunteer group in Tabriz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Baskerville and Irish correspondent W. A. Moore trained volunteers in the citadel courtyards. The US consul, William F. Doty, asked Baskerville to surrender his passport.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Portrait\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Portrait attributed to Howard Baskerville.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Baskerville was shot during an attempt to break through royalist positions at Qara Malek, on the outskirts of Tabriz. Iranica dates his death to 19 April 1909. Princeton Alumni Weekly reports that his gravestone gives 20 April.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Painted<\/a>
Painted portrait of Howard Baskerville.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Baskerville was buried in a Christian cemetery in Tabriz, described by Princeton Alumni Weekly as a former Presbyterian mission cemetery. His funeral drew townspeople, foreign residents and constitutionalist volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A telegram sent to his parents compared him to Lafayette, according to the account published by Princeton Alumni Weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Howard Baskerville’s Tomb in the Armenian Cemetery of Tabriz – Photo: baskervilleinstitute.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Princeton Alumni Weekly also records that Sattar Khan sent Baskerville\u2019s rifle to his family wrapped in a Persian flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Constitution House of Tabriz<\/a> commemorates the local movement and includes a bust of Baskerville among other figures associated with it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Bust commemorating Howard Baskerville in Tabriz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Aref Ghazvini\u2019s poetry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Princeton Alumni Weekly records that a memorial tablet placed at the grave in 1950 bore a tribute attributed to the poet Aref Qazvini. The verse honours Baskerville for giving his life for Iran and the cause of justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThree Hundred Red Roses\u201d: Disputed Attribution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another verse associated with Baskerville is commonly referred to as \u201cThree Hundred Red Roses.\u201d Its attribution and connection to his death remain uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ MORE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n