British Naval Bases and Establishments in the Ports and Islands of the Persian Gulf in the 19th Century

India was the largest and most beneficial colony of the British Empire in the 19th century. However, it was very difficult for this Empire to maintain its colonial rule over India without taking the Persian Gulf into account. Holding control over this region functioned as a strong barrier against the penetration of great world powers and England’s European rivals into the southeastern regions of Asia. Moreover, the Persian Gulf was considered to be an appropriate place for securing the economic, commercial, and military benefits of the British Empire in the region. The dominance of England over the Persian Gulf in the 19th century necessitated establishing some naval bases and facilities in the ports and islands of that region. Relying on library resources and documents, this paper aims to explore Britain’s naval bases and establishments in the Iranian ports and islands of the Persian Gulf.