Phibunsongkhram, Luang (1898-1964)

Prime minister of Thailand (1938-44 and 1948-57). He became minister of defence (1934-38), and finally emerged as prime minister in 1938. He was pro-Japanese, and promoted a nationalistic policy which ended in his welcoming the Japanese armies that conquered South-East Asia in 1941-42. In 1944, faced with the prospect of Japanese decline, he was deposed by his rival Pridi Phanomyong. However, the difficulties of the country under Pridi's rule gave Phibun the opportunity to return to power. Pridi was overthrown in 1947 and a year later Phibun was again prime minister. He now pursued a policy of alliance with the United States, and became strongly anticommunist and anti-Chinese. Under his leadership, Thailand entered the American fold and became a leading member of SEATO (South-East Asia Treaty Organization) in 1954. In 1957 he was again deposed, this time after a corrupt election, and died in exile in Japan.

As a young man, seeking to become an army officer, he was educated in France where he joined a group of Thai students with modern ideas. In 1932, following their return to Thailand, the group played a prominent part in the overthrow of the traditional Thai monarchy and bureaucracy, which is now regarded as the first Thai Revolution.