Plaek Phibunsongkhram

แปลก พิบูลสงคราม (จอมพล ป.)

["Field Marshal", "Prime Minister of Thailand", "Modernizer"]

Born Jul 14, 1897

Mueang Nonthaburi, Siam

Passed Away Jun 11, 1964 Sagamihara (Kanagawa), Japan

Lifespan 66 years old

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Notice / Correction

"Thailand belongs to the Thai people; we must build our strength with discipline, labor, and unity."

Archival Overview

Third Prime Minister of Thailand who renamed Siam to 'Thailand' in 1939, introduced national cultural mandates (including Pad Thai and Western attire), and modernized Thai national identity.

Biographical Record

Trained as an artillery officer in France, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1897–1964), known as Phibun, was a key leader of the 1932 revolution that ended absolute monarchy. Serving as Prime Minister from 1938 to 1944 and again from 1948 to 1957, he pursued strong state nationalism.

Phibun officially changed the country's name from Siam to Thailand in 1939, promoted the national anthem, standardized the language, and popularized 'Pad Thai' noodles to boost local rice consumption and national health. After a 1957 military coup, he lived in exile in Japan.

Key Life Milestones

1939

Renaming of Siam to Thailand

Issued national decree changing the historic name of Siam to Thailand ('Prathet Thai').

1940

Cultural Mandates and Pad Thai

Introduced modern cultural dress codes and popularized Pad Thai as the national dish.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Wat Phra Si Mahathat
Bang Khen (Bangkok), Thailand

                         GPS: 13.8744, 100.5986                    

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