AGA KHAN III. (Sultan Mahommed Shah), only son of the
foregoing, succeeded him on his death in 1885, and became
the head of the family and its devotees. He was born in
1877, and, under the care of his mother, a daughter of the
ruling house of Persia, was given not only that religious and
oriental education which his position as the religious leader
of the Ismailians made indispensable, but a sound European
training, a boon denied to his father and grandfather. This
blending of the two systems of education produced the happy
result of fitting this Moslem chief in an eminent degree both
for the sacerdotal functions which appertain to his spiritual
position, and for those social duties of a great and enlightened
leader which he was called upon to discharge by virtue of that
position. He travelled in distant parts of the world to
receive the homage of his followers, and with the object
either of settling differences or of advancing their welfare
by pecuniary help and personal advice and guidance. The
distinction of a knight commander of the Indian Empire was
conferred upon him by Queen Victoria in 1897, and he received
like recognition for his public services from the German emperor,
the sultan of Turkey, the shah of
Persia and other potentates.
See Naoroji M. Dumasia, A Brief History of the Aga Khan (1903) (M. M. BH.)
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed