Phot Phahonyothin

Infobox Prime Minister
name = General Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
พลเอกพระยาพหลพลพยุหเสนา
nationality = Thai


caption = speedy-image-c|2007-06-10
order = 2nd Prime Minister of Thailand
monarch = Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
term_start = June 21 1933
term_end = September 11 1938
predecessor = Phraya Manopakorn Nititada
successor = Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram
birth_date = birth date|1887|3|29|mf=y
birth_place = Bangkok, Thailand
death_date = death date and age|1947|2|14|1887|3|29|mf=y
death_place = Bangkok, Thailand
spouse = Bunlong Phahonpholphayuhasena
religion = Buddhism

General Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena (Thai พลเอกพระยาพหลพลพยุหเสนา born March 29, 1887) was a Thai military leader and politician. Phahonyothin was born in Phra Nakhorn province (present-day Bangkok) to a Teochew Chinese father and a Thai mother, [cite book|title=Chinese Society in Thailand: An Analytical History|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5y0yAAAAIAAJ|year=1957|author=George William Skinner|publisher=Cornell University Press|pages=244|isbn=] [cite book|title=Thailand: A Political, Social, and Economic Analysis|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JiIyAAAAIAAJ&q=%22and+so+was+the+father+of+another%22&dq=%22and+so+was+the+father+of+another%22&lr=&pgis=1|year=1957|author=D. Insor|publisher=Praeger|pages=138|isbn=] and as a child attended school in Germany and Denmark. He married Bunlong Phahonpholphayuhasena (Thai คุณหญิงบุญหลง พหลพลพยุหเสนา). Phraya Phahon was an important member of the group of conspirators known as the Promoters who carried out the revolution of 1932. He was the second Prime Minister of Thailand, serving five consecutive terms from June 21, 1933 until September 11, 1938. His name prior to receiving his ceremonial Thai name was Phot Phahonyothin (Thai พจน์ พหลโยธิน).

After the revolution of 1932, three factions had formed among the group of Thai politicians and military leaders, known as the Promoters, who had supported the coup. These were: first, the senior military faction led by Phraya Phahon; second, the junior army and navy faction led by Luang Phibunsongkhram; and third, the civilian faction led by Pridi Phanomyong. Believing that others of the senior military faction were planning to move against the junior military faction, Luang Phibunsongkhram won the allegiance of Phraya Phahon, and carried out a bloodless coup on June 20, 1933. The following day, Phraya Phahon was installed as Prime Minister.

The next five years were a struggle to maintain power. The cabinet was extremely divided politically, and the government was maintained but for the personality of Phraya Phahon. Luang Phibunsongkhram became Minister of Defense under the new government, and he began to acquire greater power and influence in preparation for his eventual ascension to the premiership.

The beginning of the end for Phraya Phahon’s time as Prime Minister began in 1937 when a scandal erupted, involving sale of crown real estate to high-ranking officials for below-market prices. After a near collapse that year, the first direct elections for the National Assembly took place in November 1937, and those of Phahon’s cabinet found themselves an ideological and political minority. After budget issues the next year, the cabinet was forced to resign in September 1938, and elections were held in December, installing Luang Phibunsongkhram as the next Prime Minister of Thailand.

After his difficult years as Prime Minister, General Phraya Phahon retired from public life. The Phahonyothin highway, which runs from Bangkok to the border of Myanmar in the north, is named after him.

Periods of service as Prime Minister

*First term: June 21, 1933 – December 16, 1933
*Second term: December 16, 1933 – September 22, 1934
*Third term: September 22, 1934 – July 28, 1937
*Fourth term: August 9, 1937 – December 21, 1937
*Fifth term: December 21, 1937 – September 11, 1938

References

External links

* [http://www.thaigov.go.th/general/prime/phahol42.htm Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena] (thaigov.go.th)