Who was the first Nawab Wazir of Awadh in the 18th century?

Saadat Khan, also known as Burhan-ul-Mulk, was the first Nawab of Awadh, appointed as the governor (Subahdar) of the province in 1722 by the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah [1]. He established an independent principality and laid the foundation of the Awadh dynasty [1]. While Saadat Khan was the first Nawab, the title 'Nawab Wazir' became hereditary starting with his successor and nephew, Safdar Jung, who was appointed the Wazir (Chief Minister) of the Mughal Empire. However, in the context of the first ruler of the Awadh state in the 18th century, Saadat Khan is recognized as the founder and first monarch [1]. He was succeeded by Safdar Jung in 1739 after committing suicide during the invasion of Nadir Shah [2].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Awadh > p. 70
2. [2] https://lucknow.nic.in/nawabs-of-lucknow/