Thawan Thamrongnawasawat

Thawan Thamrongnawasawat (also spelt Thawal Thamrongnavaswadhi or Thawal Thamrongnavasawat; Thai: ถวัลย์ ธำรงนาวาสวัสดิ์, IPA: [tʰà.wǎn tʰam.roŋ.naː.waː.sà.wàt]; Chinese: 郑连淡; pinyin: Zhèng Liándàn^[3][4]); 21 November 1901 – 3 December 1988), also known by his noble title as Luang Thamrongnawasawat, was the eighth Prime Minister of Thailand from 1946–1947. Before becoming a politician, he was a naval officer, holding the rank of rear admiral.

Rear Admiral Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
ถวัลย์ ธำรงนาวาสวัสดิ์
Thawan c. 1940s
8th Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 23 August 1946 – 8 November 1947
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Pridi Banomyong
Succeeded by	Khuang Aphaiwong
Minister of Justice
In office 11 June 1946 – 8 November 1947
Prime Minister	Pridi Banomyong Himself
Preceded by	Luang Chamnarnnitikaset
Succeeded by	Seni Pramoj
Minister of Interior
In office February 1935 – December 1938
Prime Minister	Phraya Phahon
Preceded by	Pridi Banomyong
Succeeded by	Plaek Phibunsongkhram
Personal details
Born	Thawan[a] (1901-11-21)21 November 1901 Ayutthaya, Krung Kao, Siam (now Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand)
Died	3 December 1988(1988-12-03) (aged 87) Phramongkutklao Hospital, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, Thailand (now Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand)
Political party	Khana Ratsadon
Other political affiliations	Free Thai Movement Constitutional Front [th]
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch	Royal Thai Navy
Rank	Major General[1] Rear Admiral[1] Group Captain[2]

Education

• Ayutthaya Wittayalai School
• Debsirin School
• Chulalongkorn University
• Royal Thai Naval Academy

Careers

Thawan Thamrongnavasawat on parliamentary speech in 1946

A career naval officer of Chinese ancestry, Thamrong was a leading member of the anti-Japanese Free Thai Movement resistance movement during World War II. He became Thailand's elected prime minister on 23 August 1946, replacing Pridi Banomyong. However, he was removed from office by a military coup orchestrated by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram on 8 November 1947. Khuang Aphaiwong then assumed the post of prime minister.^[5]

After King Rama VII abdicated the throne, Thamrong was appointed by the government to be the leader of a faculty of representatives to travel to invite Prince Ananda Mahidol, who was living in Switzerland with his mother and two siblings, to ascend to the throne as King Rama VIII of the Chakri dynasty.

However, due to political fluctuations, a coup eventually occurred originating from within a group of soldiers led by Phin Choonhavan on 8 November 1947, resulting in Thamrong having to leave the country and stay in Hong Kong for a period. When Thamrong later returned to Thailand he was appointed as a member of the Constitutional Drafting Assembly. After that, he lived a relatively quietly life.

Death

Thawan Thamrongnawasawat died on 3 December 1988 at Phramongkutklao Hospital, aged 87 years, being the first and only naval officer to date who has served as prime minister.^{[citation needed]}

Academic rank

• 1939 Adjunct Professor of Thammasat University^[6]

Royal decorations

Thawan has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
• Victory Medal - World War II
• Safeguarding the Constitution Medal
• Medal for Service Rendered in the Indochina (Franco-Thai War)
• Medal for Service in the Interior - Asia (Pacific War)
• Chakrabarti Mala Medal
• King Rama VIII Royal Cypher Medal, 1st

Notes

1. At that time, Thais did not have surnames.