Isa Bey Hajinski

Isa Bey Hajinski
Born	1861 Baku, Russian Empire
Died	1919-01-22
Occupation(s)	Landowner, industrialist, philanthropist
Known for	Owner of kerosene manufacturing plant in Baku's Black City; philanthropy supporting education

Isa Bey Hajinski (1861–1919) was a prominent Azerbaijani landowner, industrialist, and philanthropist, known for owning a kerosene manufacturing plant located in Baku’s Black City area.

Early life

Isa Bey was born in 1861 in Baku, then part of the Russian Empire (present-day Azerbaijan). Educated at home and fluent in multiple languages, he inherited vast estates from his father. The discovery of rich oil reserves on this property enabled him to rapidly grow his ventures within the oil sector.

Charitable activities

A distinguished supporter of the Alexander High School, Isa Bey Hajinski increased his yearly donations from 800 to 1000 roubles. In 1913, he invested an additional 1000 roubles to acquire a cinematograph for the institution, a rare asset at that time. Notably, he was also the first individual in Baku to own an automobile. That same year, he purchased a summer residence in Mineralnye Vody to offer convalescent stays for students with fragile health. Furthermore, he contributed to the Baku Gymnasium for Men, where children from impoverished families were able to attend without paying tuition fees. For his extensive charitable efforts, Isa Bey received two distinctions of the Order of Saint Stanislaus, third and fourth class.

Later life

Following Isa Bey Hajinski’s death on January 22, 1919, his sons emigrated to France within a year. The fates of Sadikh bey and Ahmad bey remain uncertain, while the youngest son, Ali Bey, returned to Baku after World War II but was later detained. After Isa Bey’s demise, his 15-year-old daughter Zibeyda khanim and her mother Kheyransa khanim experienced financial hardship.