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 (European history), 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 pow ...

Biography

Prayoon Thai father was Major Yam Pamornmontri; his mother was a German physician. She taught German 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 (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 language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...

to meet with fellow Siamese student, Khuang Aphaiwong. 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 ...

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 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, 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 i ...

. 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 opposing ...

, 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. 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.

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 Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Road incident deaths in Thailand Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Prayoon Pamornmontri Thai expatriates in Germany