Encyclopaedia Britannica: Thailand - Postwar Crisis, Phibunsongkhram, Democracy
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Plaek Phibunsongkhram
Plaek Phibunsongkhram, commonly known in English language sources as Phibun and as Chomphon Por in Thai, was a Thai military officer and politician who served as the third prime minister of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and again from 1948 to 1957. He rose to power as a leading member of the Khana Ratsadon, becoming prime minister in 1938 and later consolidating his influence as a military dictator.…
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politics · Prime Minister of Thailand (1938–1944; 1948–1957) · politician · military personnel · also Plaek Phibunsongkhram, Phibul, Phibunsongkhram
Born 14 July 1897 · Died 11 June 1964 · Q152777
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2026· 1 entry
1964· 1 entry
Died 1964-06-11.
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1960· 1 entry
Phibun briefly travelled to India to be a monk in the Buddhist temple in Bodhgaya
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1957· 1 entry
And went into exile in Japan until his death in 1964
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1956· 1 entry
It became clearer that Phibun, allied to Phao, was losing to another influential group led by Sarit which consisted of "Sakdina" (royalties and royalists)
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1955· 2 entries
Awarded Grand Cross of Naval Merit with white badge (1955).
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Career landmark: Minister of Interior of Thailand (1955–1957).
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1954· 2 entries
Career landmark: Minister of Commerce of Thailand (1954–1955).
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Phibun allied Thailand further with the West in the Cold War by helping establish SEATO
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1952· 3 entries
Career landmark: Minister of Culture (1952–1955).
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Career landmark: Prime Minister of Thailand (1952–1957).
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Career landmark: Minister of Defence of Thailand (1952–1957).
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1948· 2 entries
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Thailand (1948–1957).
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Through a military-backed coup and ruled during the early Cold War period
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1944· 1 entry
As the Japanese neared defeat and the underground anti-Japanese Free Thai Movement steadily grew in strength, the National Assembly ousted Phibun as prime minister and his six-year reign as the military commander-in-chie
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1941· 1 entry
In the midst of World War II, Phibun decreed 1 January as the official start of the new year instead of the traditional Songkran date on 13 April
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1938· 4 entries
Luang Wichitwathakan, himself of one-quarter Chinese ancestry, followed Rama VI's book Jews of the East in comparing the Teochew in Siam to the Jews in Germany, who at the time were harshly repressed
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Career landmark: Prime Minister of Thailand (1938–1944).
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And later consolidating his influence as a military dictator
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Phibun became prime minister while serving as Commander of the Royal Siamese Army
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1934· 1 entry
Career landmark: Permanent Secretary for Defence of Thailand (1934–1934).
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1932· 1 entry
Phibun was one of the leaders of the Royal Siamese Army branch of the People's Party (Khana Ratsadon), a political organization that staged a coup d'état which overthrew Siam's absolute monarchy and replaced it with a co
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1928· 1 entry
As he rose in rank, he received the noble title Luang from King Prajadhipok, and became known as Luang Phibunsongkhram
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1914· 1 entry
Was commissioned into the Royal Siamese Army as a second lieutenant in the artillery
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1897· 1 entry
Born 1897-07-14.
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