Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

The computer colored photo shows Chao Praya Bhasakornwongse (1849 - 1920), first Minister of Agriculture from 1892 to 1894 and first Minister of Education from 1892 to 1902.

Original name as Porn Bunnag, when being young, he was sent to study in London, England. After graduated, he was appointed to be the personal interpreter of a Chao Praya who was his cousin (another Bunnag), who was appointed as an ambassador to Europe.

In 1867, he went back home in Siam and worked as a government officer for King Rama IV.

Being a person with knowledge of foreign affairs, he was graciously pleased by King Rama V to be a special ambassador to negotiate with England in 1879. In addition, he was also a special ambassador to develop good relations with Germany and other European countries

He was granted a high noble rank for a commoner as Chao Praya in the reign of King Rama V in 1892.

Note: He had one wife. Some of his children are shown in the B&W photo above. The lady, also his daughter, on the chair was King Rama V’s Royal Concubine (Notice: her chair is a little bit higher than her father’s).



(The computer colored photo shows Chao Praya Bhasakornwongse in a full uniform shot in the reign of King Rama V)



(A caricature of Chao Praya Bhasakornwongse as a special Envoy to England by an illustrator who used the name “Spy” as alias posted in a British magazine titled “Vanity Fair” in 1879)