Luang phibunsongkhram biography of albert

Phibun Songkhram
the master of the coup d'etat

Phibun Songkhram was one of the 114 members of the Promoters, the group that launched the coup on 24 June 1932 that changed the government to a constitutional monarchy.

Born Plaek Khittasangkha in 1897 to a humble family in Nonthaburi province just north of Bangkok, he joined the military academy at 12, graduated at 17 and joined the artillery.

His outstanding military performance was rewarded with advanced training in France from 1924 – 1927.

It was in France, where the seeds of discontent against the absolute monarchy were fermenting among the young Thai students, that he met Pridi Banomyong a young law student.

The two of them would be instrumental in the 1932 coup.

In 1928 a year after his return to Bangkok, he was granted the rank and title Luang Phibunsongkhram which he adopted as his family name. He became known to the rest o Phibun Songkhram - the master of the coup d'etat JUXA