Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
"The Babi Dispensation began on May 22, 1844 in Shiraz, Iran. The Bab means "The Gate." He was the Prophet-Herald of Baha'u'llah. Mulla Husayn was the first to believe in the Bab. [Baha'I Glossary, p. 10, 36] "Two hours and eleven minutes after sunset Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad makes His declaration to Mulla Husayn-i-Bushru'i." [Baha'I Chronology, p. 16] "It was universally admitted by the Shi'ites that He had never studied in any school and had not acquired knowledge from any teacher; all the people of Shiraz bear witness to this. Nevertheless, He suddenly appeared before the people, endowed with the most complete erudition. . . . He announced the glad tidings of the manifestation of the Sun of Baha to His followers and prepared them to believe. The appearance of such wonderful signs and great results; the effects produced upon the minds of the people, and upon the prevailing ideas; the establishment of the foundations of progress; and the organization of the principles of success and prosperity by a young merchant, constitute the greatest proof that He was a perfect Educator." [Abdu'l-Baha: Some Answered Questions, p. 30-1]