Purachatra Jayakara
Purachatra Jayakara | |||||
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Prince of Siam the Prince of Kamphaengphet | |||||
Spouse | Princess Prabhavasidhi Narumala Princess Ladakham of Chiang Mai and 5 consorts | ||||
Issue | see below | ||||
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House | House of Chatrajaya Chakri Dynasty | ||||
Father | Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Siam | ||||
Mother | Chao Chom Manda Wad Kalyanamitra |
His Royal Highness Prince Purachatra Jayakara, the Prince of Kamphaengphet, or Phra Chao Boromwongse Ther Phra Ong Chao Purachatra Jayakara Kromma Phra Kamphaengphet Akarayothin (RTGS: Burachat Chaiyakon) Thai: พระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าบุรฉัตรไชยากร กรมพระกำแพงเพ็ชรอัครโยธิน; 23 January 1881 – 29 January 1936) was a Prince of Siam and a member of the Siamese Royal Family (later Thailand). He founded the House of Chatrajaya (ราชสกุลฉัตรไชย), his descendants still use this royal surname. He was a son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V the Great) of Siam. He was often called the Father of the Thai radio and the Father of the Thai railways, due to his contributions in both fields.
Biography
Prince Purachatra Jayakara was born on 23 January 1881 in the compound of the Grand Palace. He was the 35th son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam and The Noble Consort (Chao Chom Manda) Wad Kalyanamitra. He received the education in Suankularb Wittayalai School. In 1894, he attended studying the Public works at Harrow College, England. Then attended School of Engineering at Trinity Cambridge, University of Cambridge, and engineering at Chatham. And he attended studying in France and Netherlands in the School of engineering of digging dam-canals. After graduating, he went back to work in England. He became the officer of the Institution of Civil engineer.
He came back to Thailand in 1904. He worked as the military engineer, and officer of the Siamese Royal Army. He had served for 17 years. He developed the Siamese Department of Engineering militaries in his knowledge he got from the western. Later he retired himself and moved to Singapore with his family in 1933. He resided there until his death on 29 January 1936, at the age of 54.
Royal duties
Thai railways
In the reign of King Chulalongkorn. He gave the Siamese railway offices in control of the foreigners, for administration in the railways system around Thailand. Until his death in 1910, starting the new reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). He requested his step-brother, Prince Purachatra Jayakara to be the Head of the Northern railway department. Later in 1917, King Vajiravudh include the railways of the Northern line and the Sounthern line into the Royal Railway department and had Prince Purachatra Jayakara as the president. He developed and well-administrated the railway system. He expanded the raillines around the northern and sountern territory. Moreover, he created the north-eastern territory's line, started from Nakhon Ratchasima Province to Ubol Ratchathani Province. And the eastern line, started from Chachoengsao Province to Sa Kaeo Province which ended at Aranyaprathet District. He brought the diesel engine to use in Siam, as the first country in Asia using diesel engine.
Later, King Vajiravudh dissolved the road department and included into the Royal railway department. Prince Purachatra Jayakara was responsibility for creating all the roads and bridges around the country, such as the Kasatsuk Bridge the first railway bridge in Thailand, Ratchadaphisek Bridge in Lampang Province, Phra Buddha Yodfa Bridge and Rama VI Bridge.
In 1921, he served as the commander of the railway department. He brought the engine of searching crude oil, firstly in Fang District, Chiang Mai Province where the people there found many amounts of crude oil. He hired the American Geologist to worked as surveying in geological system, for finding crude oil and coal around Thailand.
Transpotations and Communications
He fristly brought the communication system into the country. He set up a small radio broadcasting trails and broadcated fristly in 1930. He established the first radio broadcasting station called Phayathai radio station. He was the first person of Siam, establishing the communication broadcasting system in the country. Then he became the Ministry of Commerce and Transport. He thought about craeting the television broadcasting transmission, but it was not successful because of the Siamese Revolution of 1932. The project was cancelled, unless would be the first country of television transmission in Asia. Furthermore, he created the telegraph offices around the country, for mailing services, parcel, and postal services. He craeted the communicatin services from Thailand to many foreign countries.
In the transportation systems, he interested about the flight operation systems. He demonstrated flighting, later acknowledged as the first Thai people embarking. He then established the flight operation systems business aviation, including the international aviation, for commercial aviation international services.
On 1 April 1926, he became the Minister of Commerce and Transport, which were both included into the one ministry. After the Siamese Revolution, he usually did the royal duties and royal ceremonies represented his step-brother, King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), before his abdication.
Marriage and issue
Prince Purachatra Jayakara, the Prince of Kamphaengphet had 7 consorts, and 12 children; 4 sons and 8 daughters.
He firstly married on 16 November 1904 with his cousin, Princess Prabhavasidhi Narumala, daughter of Prince Chaturanta Rasmi, the Prince Chakrabadibongse, King Chulalongkorn's younger brother. The couple had 4 children; 1 son and 3 daughters;
- Her Highness Princess Mayurachatra (7 March 1906 – 11 August 1970), married Mom Chao Sohbhana Bharadaya Savastivatana, has issue
- Her Highness Princess (died after birth)
- His Highness Prince Prem Purachatra (12 August 1915 – 24 July 1981), married Ngamchitti Sarsas, no issue. He originated the House of Purachatra (Thai: ราชสกุลบุรฉัตร), separated from his father.
- Her Highness Princess Vimolchatra (born 27 June 1921 - 5 December 2009), married His Serene Highness Prince (Mom Chao) Udaya Chalermlabh Vudhijaya, son of Prince Vuthichaya Chalermlabha, the Prince Singhavikrom Kriangkrai, has issue.
He secondly married with the Chiang Mai's princess, Princess Ladakham of Chiang Mai had 2 daughters;
- Her Serene Highness Prince Chatrasuda Chatrajaya (27 February 1920 – 21 May 1996), firstly married with Mom Chao Ravivanna Bairojana Rabhibhat, later relingquished the roayl title and married secondly with Narong Wongthongsri, businessman.
- Her Serene Highness Prince Bhadaralada Chatrajaya (21 March 1924 – 29 March 2008), married Mom Chao Biriyadis Diskul, had issue.
Mom Pian Chatrajaya na Ayudhya (née Surakup; 1 September 1899 – 14 July 1938), had 1 daughter;
- Her Serene Highness Princess Kanchanachatra Chatrajaya (21 December 1921 – 20 July 1988), married Mom Chao Prasomsuksavasdi Suksavasdi, had issue
Mom Pued Chatrajaya na Ayudhaya (née Pheungrakwong; 12 June 1906 – 5 March 1984), had 1 son;
- Her Serene Highness Prince Surachatra Chatrajaya (15 June 1929 – 27 August 1993), married firstly with Rajda Israsena na Ayudhya, and secondly with Mom Rajawongse Ruengrambai Jumbala, had issue.
Mom Buaphud Chatrajaya na Ayudhya (née Intrasut; born 5 April 1911 - ), had 1 son and 1 daughter;
- Her Serene Highness Princess Fuengchatra Chatrajaya (9 May 1932 – 8 July 2004), married Mom Rajawongse Bibadhanadis Diskul, had issue
- His Serene Highness Prince Bipulchatra Chatrajaya (12 September 1935 – 31 May 1956)
Mom Chamlong Chatrajaya na Ayudhya (née Chalanukroh; 8 September 1913 – 4 November 1968), had 1 daughter;
- Her Serene Highness Princess Hiranyachatra Chatrajaya (20 october 1933 – 2 December 1998, relingquished the royal title and married Alfred Fitting, and secondly with Bwen Edwards, had issue.
Mom Euam Chatrajaya na Ayudhya (née Aruntat; 14 October 1910 – 16 February 1948), had 1 son;
- His Serene Highness Prince Dibyachatra Chatrajaya (born 6 October 1934), married Charusri Ratanawaraha, Mandhana Bunnag, and Orasri Leenawat, has issue
Royal decorations
- Knight of The Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems
- Knight of The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri
- Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
- Knight Commander of the Honourable of the Order of Rama (1st class)
- Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
- Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
- The Ratana Varabhorn order of Merit
- King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal, Second Class
- King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal, First Class
- King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal, First Class
He prestigious the royal title as The Prince of Kamphaengphet', translated as Krom Muen Kamphaengphet Akarayothin (Thai: กรมหมื่นกำแพงเพชรอัครโยธิน) on 29 January 1904. Later was elevated by King Prajadhipok from Krom Muen into Krom Phra, the second level of the Krom ranks.
Ancestry
Princess Purachatra Jayakara, the Prince of Kamphaengphet | Father: Chulalongkorn, King Rama V of Siam |
Paternal Grandfather: Mongkut, King Rama IV of Siam |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, King Rama II of Siam |
Paternal Great-grandmother: Queen Sri Suriyendra | |||
Paternal Grandmother: Queen Debsirindra |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Sirivongse, the Prince Matayabidaksa | ||
Paternal Great-grandmother: Mom Noi Sirivongs na Ayudhya | |||
Mother: Chao Chom Manda Wad Kalyanamitra |
Maternal Grandfather: Lord Sathiarnraksa |
Maternal Great-grandfather: unknown | |
Maternal Great-grandmother: unknown | |||
Maternal Grandmother: Prik Kalyanamitra |
Maternal Great-grandfother: Phraya Isranubhab | ||
Maternal Great-grandmother: Kham Kalyanamitra |
References
- 1881 births
- 1936 deaths
- Chakri Dynasty
- Thai royalty
- Thai princes
- House of Chatrajaya
- King Chulalongkorn's sons
- Members of the Order of the Nine Gems
- Members of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri
- Members of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
- Members of the Order of Rama
- Members of the Order of the White Elephant
- Members of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
- Members of the Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit
- Recipients of the King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal
- Recipients of the King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal
- Recipients of the King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal
- Recipients of the King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal