1. Abhakara Kiartivongse was commonly revered as "The Father of the Thai Navy".
12 Facts About Abhakara Kiartivongse
1. 2.
Abhakara Kiartivongse's mother, chao chom manda Mot, was a royal concubine from an aristocratic but non-royal family, which meant that Abhakara was unlikely to ascend to the throne.
3.
Abhakara Kiartivongse hoped that his sons would acquire western military knowledge that would allow them to train future officers of the armed forces.
4.
From January 1884, the two princes studied in Ascot under the tutelage of Basil Thomson; in 1895, Vajiravudh began training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, while Abhakara Kiartivongse moved to The Limes, a naval preparatory school for Britannia Royal Naval College at Greenwich, before commencing sea training in April 1897 aboard the Siamese vessel Maha Chakri.
5.
Abhakara Kiartivongse was accepted as a midshipman in the Royal Navy and posted to the battleship HMS Revenge in November 1897, and subsequently served in HMS Ramillies, the sloop HMS Cruiser and the reconnaissance vessel HMS Hawk.
6.
Abhakara Kiartivongse achieved good marks in his training and impressed his supervisors with his skills, but was not allowed to undertake courses in naval tactics, gunnery or torpedoes, which were deemed to be of a 'confidential character' by the Admiralty.
7.
Abhakara Kiartivongse returned to Siam in 1900 to serve in the creation of Royal Siamese Navy.
8.
Abhakara Kiartivongse was removed from public duties between 1911 and 1917, possibly as a result of rumors about his implication in plots against his half-brother, now king Vajiravudh.
9.
Abhakara Kiartivongse commanded the ship during its subsequent voyage home.
10.
Not long after being honoured to the title "Commander in Chief, Admiral and Father" of the Siamese Navy, Abhakara Kiartivongse resigned from office on the grounds of ill health.
11.
Abhakara Kiartivongse travelled for rehabilitation to Monthon Surat for a month, and then to Hat Ree beach in Chumphon province.
12.
Abhakara Kiartivongse contracted influenza after an accidental exposure cold rain, which worsened his condition sharply, and died at the age of 42, on 19 May 1923, at 11:40 am.