Our history

BP's history is full of discoveries, starting in 1908 with oil found in a rugged part of Persia after a long and difficult search. Since then, discoveries large and small have fuelled our progress. Where did they find the energy?

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1901-1908

How BP began - as William D’Arcy risked his fortune on oil and very nearly lost it

1909-1924

From struggle to success, with a little help from Winston Churchill along the way

1925-1945

After two decades of progress everything changed in the autumn of 1939

1946-1970

A new stability would soon be shattered by political crises in the Middle East

1971-1999

At the turn of the century BP found new momentum through a series of mergers

Heritage companies

A short history of our heritage businesses and brands – Amoco, Arco, Aral, Sohio and Castrol
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