Bhumibol Adulyadej
Introduction
1950: Formally crowned
Represented the Chakri Dynasty
1946: Became King of Thailand
Education and marriage
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The only Thai monarch ever to be born abroad
The youngest son of Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, and the direct grandson of King Chulalongkorn
Born on December 5, 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Origin
In Switzerlan, he attended the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, then received his Bachelier des Lettres diploma from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne.
In June 1946, he was declared king after the deadth of his elder brother.
Then he left Switzerlan, entered Lausanne University to study science.
On April 28 of 1950, he married Queen Sirikit.
He returned Switzerland to study political science and law but was called back to Thailand.
Achievement of growing up Thailand
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He visited every province of country and suggested infrastructural improvements that might benefit the people.
He succeed in convincing hill tribes to switch their growing of opium to that of vegetables, fruit, and coffee.
He was a symbol both of national unity and of modernity.
As a result, opium cultivation declined by 85%. Village roads, electricity, and irrigation systems were all part of his rural development efforts and modernization of Thai farming.
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Projects included livestock improvement, milk production, hybridization of grains, bee keeping, fish breeding,...
The palace grounds functioned as one great workshop and school for teaching and learning.
Royal Chitralada Projects were undertaken to improve the standard of living.
Projects to develop Thailand
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Drawbacks of being a King
He was noted as a devotee of modern music and played the clarinet, was said to have broad cultural interests.
But the myriad ceremonial duties left him little time for personal interests.
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Preservation cultural traditions of Thailand
King continued in cultural tradition by extending the power of the cetral government to its peripheral geographical areas and attempting to improve the lot of the rural poor.
The king was viewed as the symbolic embodiment of that long tradition.
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