founder of the modern Thai educational system as well as the modern provincial administration
1862 CE
to 1943 CE
Prince Tisavarakumarn, the Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (June 21, 1862 – December 1, 1943) is the founder of the modern Thai educational system as well as the modern provincial administration.
He is an autodidact, a (self-taught) historian, and one of the most influential Thai intellectuals of his time.
Born as Phra Ong Chao Tisavarakumarn ("Prince Tisavarakumarn"), a son of King Mongkut with Consort Chum (Chao Chom Manda Chum), a lesser royal wife; he initially learns Thai and Pali from private tutors, and English at the Royal School with Mr. Francis George Patterson.
At the age of fourteen, he receives his formal education in a special palace school created by his half-brother, King Chulalongkorn.
He is given posts in the royal administration at an early age, becoming the commander of the Royal Guards Regiment in 1880 at age eighteen, and after several years he works at building army schools as well as modernizing the army in general.
In 1887, he is appointed as grand-officer to the army (commander-in-chief).
At the same time he is chosen by the king to become the Minister of Education in his provisional cabinet.
When King Chulalongkorn begins his administrative reform program in 1892, Prince Damrong is chosen to lead the Ministry of the North (Mahatthai), which is converted into the Ministry of the Interior in 1894.
In his time as minister, he completely overhauls provincial administration.
Many minor provinces are merged into larger ones, the provincial governors loses most of their autonomy when the post is converted into one appointed and salaried by the ministry, and a new administrative division—the monthon (circle) covering several provinces—is created.
Formal education of administrative staff is introduced.
Damrong is among the most important advisors of the king, and considered second only to him in power.
