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Thailand: HRH Prince Ditsawarakuman, better known as Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (1862-1943)

Thailand: HRH Prince Ditsawarakuman, better known as  Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (1862-1943)

Ditsawarakuman Damrong Rajanubhab (Somdet Phra Chao Borommawong Thoe Phra Ong Chao Ditsawarakuman Krom Phraya Damrong Rachanuphap) ( 21 June 1862 – 1 December 1943) was the founder of the modern Thai education system as well as the modern provincial administration. He was also a self-taught historian, and one of the most influential Siamese intellectuals of his time.

Prince Damrong is credited as the father of Thai history, the education system, the health system (the Ministry of Health was originally a department of the Ministry of the Interior) and the provincial administration. On the centenary of his birth in 1962, he became the first Thai to be included in the UNESCO list of the world's most distinguished persons. Damrong worked as a self-educated historian, as well as writing books on Thai literature, culture and arts. Out of his works grew the National Library, as well as the National Museum.

His many descendants use the Royal surname Disakul.

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