Lieutenant General Prayoon Pamornmontri ( th, ประยูร ภมรมนตรี) was a Thai soldier, politician, and member of ''

Khana Ratsadon The People's Party, known in Thai as Khana Ratsadon ( th, คณะราษฎร, ), was a Siamese group of military and civil officers, and later a political party, which staged a bloodless revolution against King Prajadhipok's government a ...

'' (People's Party). He participated in the Siamese Revolution of 1932 to promote democracy by overthrowing the

absolute monarchy Absolute monarchy (or Absolutism as a doctrine) is a form of monarchy in which the monarch rules in their own right or power. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen is by no means limited and has absolute power, though a limited constitut ...

Biography

Prayoon Thai father was Major Yam Pamornmontri; his mother was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

physician. She taught

to many Siamese cadets in the German Empire at the time, many of whom later became members of the Khana Ratsadon. Prayoon, as a child, served as a royal page to King

Vajiravudh Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...

(Rama VI). When he grew up, he was appointed a royal guard. He resigned to study

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

in Paris. While in Europe he traveled from Switzerland to

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...

to meet with fellow Siamese student,

Khuang Aphaiwong Khuang Aphaiwong (also spelled ''Kuang'', ''Abhaiwong'', or ''Abhaiwongse''; th, ควง อภัยวงศ์, ; 17 May 1902 – 15 March 1968), also known by his noble title Luang Kowit-aphaiwong ( th, หลวงโกวิทอ� ...

. Khuang introduced him to

Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong ( th, ปรีดี พนมยงค์, , ; 11 May 1900 – 2 May 1983), also known by his noble title Luang Praditmanutham ( th, หลวงประดิษฐ์มนูธรรม) was a Thai politician and professo ...

, the Paris-based leader of Siamese students in French. In Paris, Pridi and Prayoon often spent their free time meeting in

café A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-ca ...

s or strolling the streets of Paris, talking about politics and the situation in Siam. This led to the creation of Khana Ratsadon, with Prayoon and Pridi as the first two members. The first official meeting of Khana Ratsadon was held at rental no.9,

Rue Du Sommerard The rue des Mathurins-Saint-Jacques, now known as the rue Du Sommerard after Alexandre Du Sommerard, is a street in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, in the Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which ...

on 5 February 1927, Prayoon's 30th birthday. His role in Khana Ratsadon was to contact and coordinate with other members. After absolute monarchy was overthrown in Siam, he was appointed Minister of Education in the administration of Field Marshal

Plaek Phibunsongkhram Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram ( th, แปลก พิบูลสงคราม ; alternatively transcribed as ''Pibulsongkram'' or ''Pibulsonggram''; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964), locally known as Marshal P. ( th, จอมพล � ...

, the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, he was appointed

Minister of Public Health The Minister for Public Health and Women's Health is a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. The minister is not a member of the Scottish Cabinet, however, they report to the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care. ...

(1954–1957). In the military, he founded the Volunteer Defense Corps (VDC) and ascended to the rank of lieutenant general. He was elected as an MP for Chiang Mai as a member of the Seri Manangkasila Party in the

February 1957 Thai general election General elections were held in Thailand on 26 February 1957. The result was a victory for the Seri Manangkhasila Party, which won 86 of the 160 elected seats, with the 123 appointed members of the previous parliament continued to serve in the new ...

. Prayoon's youngest son is actor, singer, and politician Yuranunt "Sam" Pamornmontri. Prayoon Pamornmontri died on 12 August 1982, aged 85, in a crash on a Bangkok city bus at

Ratchaprasong Intersection Ratchaprasong ( th, ราชประสงค์, ; also spelled ''Rajprasong'') is the name of an intersection, and a shopping district named after it, in Pathum Wan District, Bangkok, adjacent to the Siam area, at the BTS Skytrain's Ch ...

Honours and awards

Civil Service of Siam rank

* Prefect of The Secretariat of The Cabinet of Siam ( th, รองอำมาตย์เอก)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pamornmontri, Prayoon 1898 births 1982 deaths

Prayoon Pamornmontri Lieutenant General Prayoon Pamornmontri ( th, ประยูร ภมรมนตรี) was a Thai soldier, politician, and member of ''Khana Ratsadon'' (People's Party). He participated in the Siamese Revolution of 1932 to promote democracy ...

Road incident deaths in Thailand

Thai expatriates in Germany