William Knox D’Arcy never set out to change the world. Born in England in 1849, he first made his fortune in Australian gold mining. By 1901, with wealth and ambition to spare, he struck a deal with the Shah of Persia that gave him exclusive rights to search for oil across most of the country.

For years, drilling was slow, expensive, and disappointing. D’Arcy burned through much of his fortune and faced financial ruin. Just as his backers were ready to give up, his team struck oil in 1908 at Masjed Soleiman. It was the first major discovery in the Middle East, and it changed global energy forever.

The discovery created the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, later known as BP. But by then, D’Arcy had sold off most of his rights to cover debts. He lived comfortably until his death in 1917, but he never shared in the vast wealth that flowed from the empire he helped start.