Devawongse Varopakarn

Prince Devawongse Varopakar ( Thai: สมเด็จ พระเจ้า บรม วงศ์ เธอ กรม พระยา เทวะ วงศ์ ว โร ป การ, RTGS: Somdet Phrachao Borommawongthoe Krom Phraya Thewawong Waropakan, pronunciation: [ t ʰ ewáʔwoŋ wáʔro ː pàʔka ː n]; * June 27, 1858 in Bangkok, Siam (now Thailand ), † June 27, 1923 ) was a member of the Thai royal family and 1885-1923 Minister of Foreign Affairs under the kings Chulalongkorn and Vajiravudh.

Biography

Prince Devawongse was born the 42nd child of King Rama IV ( Mongkut ), and received together with his half-brother and later King Chulalongkorn and the other siblings by her governess Anna Leonowens an education in English. After further training in the early 1870s, he was appointed by his half- brother King Chulalongkorn to the employee in his personal secretary.

On June 12, 1885 King Chulalongkorn appointed him finally to the Secretary of State and he held that office under his successor Vajiravudh until his death. He modernized the Ministry on the Western model.

As Foreign Minister, he was instrumental in the reorganization of the foreign policy Chulalangkorns, which included an opening to the West, led to longer trips abroad of the king to Europe and ultimately to the modernization of the country. He worked alongside King Chulalongkorn closely with the Belgian lawyers, politicians and diplomats Gustave Rolin - Jaequemyns from 1892 together.

One of his first foreign trips he made in 1887 in the United States.

Even under Vajirawudh viewed Siam Europe approached further. In World War Siam supported the Triple Entente between the UK, France and Russia with 2,000 elite soldiers. For this, the country received a seat in the League of Nations.

Institute of Foreign Affairs

The Thai Institute of Foreign Affairs, which is run by the State Department, is named after the former minister.