Devawongse Varopakarn (เทวะวงศ์ วโรปการ)

Thai. Name of a son of King Mongkut (fig.), whose name is also transliterated Thewawong Waropakan. He was the 42nd child of King Mongkut, with his consort Princess Piyamawadi (ปิยมาวดี), who in total had six children with King Rama IV, who himself was father to 82 children with 35 wives. Hence, Prince Devawongse is the older full brother of Sunandha Kumariratana, Sawang Watthana (fig.), and Saowapha Phongsri (fig.), who later all three became Queen Consorts of King Chulalongkorn (fig.), i.e. another son of King Mongkut with Queen Rampheuy Phamaraphirom, and thus his half-brother. Prince Devawongse was the second foreign minister of Siam, during the Rattanakosin Period. He was born on 27 November 1858 and at birth given the name Prince Devan Uthayawongse (เทวัญ อุไทยวงศ์), which is more correctly also transliterated Thewan Uthaiwong. Educated in Bangkok, he began his public service career at the Audit Office in 1875. He concurrently served as Assistant Principal Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs to his half-brother, King Rama V. In 1878, he became the Principal Private Secretary and concurrently Comptroller General in the Treasury. In 1885, after his predecessor, Chao Phya Phanuwong Mahakosathibodih (ภาณุวงศ์ มหาโกษาธิบดี), had requested the King to be relieved of his post due to ill health, Prince Devawongse was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position then known as Senabodi (เสนาบดี) and initially with offices in Saranrom Palace (fig.). Prince Devawongse passed away in Bangkok on 28 June 1923, aged 64. He had 40 children and 7 wives, and held the royal title of Krom Phraya. In recognition of his long and extensive contribution to the Thai diplomatic service, he has been given the designation Father of Thai Diplomacy. 回