CHAO PHYA BHANUWONGSE MAHA KOSA DHIBODI (KHUN CHAI TUAM)

Khun Chai Tuam was a Royal Page in the Court of King Rama III. During the reign of King Rama IV, He received the title of Chamuen Chard Hoomprae. It so happened that, in 1856, King Rama IV was comtemplating sending a Goodwill Mission to England. It was brought to his Majesty's attention, that Nai Chard Hooprae (Tuam) was articulate in English. Thus in the year 1857, Nai Chard Humprae was attached to the special Diplomatic Mission to the Court of St.James as an interpreter. He received the title of Chamuen Raja Martr. It should be mentioned that the Head of the Mission was one of his elder brothers Phya Montri Suriyawongse (Choom). Queen Victoria received this Mission at Winsor Castle. Chamuen Raja Martr (Tuam), being handsome, galant, graceful in manner and impeccable in dress, all combined, with his charming personality and his American accent, made an everlasting impression of approval on everyone concerned. This served him nicely in later years. In appreciation of his services to the mission. His Majesty bestowed the title of Phra Petr Pisai Sri Sawaddee on him and he was appointed Governor of Petchaburi Province. Shortly after taking up his position as Governor, His Majesty commissioned him to be the Supervisor of the construction of the King's new Summer Palace on a Mount in Petchaburi. The Palace became known as Phra Nakorn Kiri, and known by the populace as Khao Wang. He was also appointed Supervisor of the building of the bridge that spans the Petchaburi River. He was responsible for the recruiting the necessary labour, and local materials that were required. An English firm of engineers was commissioned and was responsible for materials that were imported from abroad. His good English served him well! When the Summer Palace was completed and the bridge was ready for use, Phra Petr Pisai Sri Sawaddee (Tuam) was promoted to Minister of Defence and he received the title of Phya Thep Prachoom.

In the early years of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, reign, Phya Thep Prachoom's (Tuam's) older brother, Chao Phya Sri Suriyawongse (Chuang) was Minister of the Royal Treasury, Customs and Foreign Affairs - the Chao Khun Kromma Tha. When Chao Khun Sri (Chuang) was appointed regent, with the title of Somdej Chao Phya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse, Phaya Thep Prachoom(Tuam) succeeded to his brother's former position and received the title of Chao Phya Bhanuwongse Maha Kosa Dhibodi, Chao Khun Kromma Tha. It should be noted that Chao Phya Bhanuwongse (Tuam) was the first Chao Khun Kromma Tha to have gone abroad as an envoy able to speak English fluently.

Chao Phya Bhanuwongse Maha Kosa Dhibodi (Tuam) was an innovator. One of the first innovations he implemented was to have all the officials of the 'Kromma Tha Office', wear a navy blue panung with a white five button tunic coat without a belt. (The panung was the Siamese National garment worn in place of trousers right up to 1st January 1936), King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, perceiving the smartness of this dress, as it was the custom of the day to wear a different colour panung for each day of the week, issued a decree that all members of the Civil Service to wear this newly introduced navy blue panung and white button - up coat. (This particular blue colour is still known in Siamese as Si Narmngern Kromma Tha).

Another innovation of Chao Phya Bhanuwongse (Tuam) took place on the celebration of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V's nineteenth birthday in 1872. A Grand Dinner and Ball was held for first time in the history of Siam. All the princes, noblemen, diplomatic and consular corps, foreign dignities and merchant leaders were invited. The venue was Chao Khun Kromma Tha's residence (his father's, the former Regent's residence at Klong Sarn, Dhonburi).

The residential grounds were decorated with coloured laterns and festoons that made it look like fairy land. It was indeed a function worthy of being held for the first time by a Chao Khun Kromma Tha.

We should like to digress from our narrative to return to Petchaburi Province, where Chao Khun Kromma Tha (Tuam), when governor, had built some houses on his father's property. It was on this property that most of his family of thirteen wives and twenty-five children stayed. Owing to his preoccupation of State Affairs, he often neglected his family, especially his sons, namely: Khun Sutjai, Khun Tuie, Khun Klieng, and Khun Pier (the one we shall follow). However, he did send Khun Pier to live in Bangkok to be taught English, and Khun Pier eventually accompanied H.R.H. Prince Swasti Wadh to Oxford University. A few sons amounted to something : Phya Dhumsaranetr (Tuk) became a judge; Phya Chamnong Ditkarn (Thep) became Minister then Ambassador to the Imperial Court of Japan and Italy. Another son Luang Thep Prakart (Tew) was an official in the Sheriff Department of the Justice. As to his daughters, his eldest daughter Khun Lek and his youngest daughter Khun Tae were constantly with him wherever he went. They were his only comfort in his twilight years. It was sad to say his private life was far from happy.

Now to return to our narrative. In 1869 Chao Khun Kromma Tha (Tuam) was sent as Head of another special mission. This time as bearer of the Illustrious Order of the White Elephant to be presented to Queen Victoria. On his return, he foresaw the necessity of having an official guest house in order to house VIP8s and State visitors. He thus built a two storey guest house in spacious grounds in Bangkok on the river, opposite his residence on the other side of the river at Klong Sarn. It just so happens that this house is now part of the Oriental Hotel, which he sold to Mr. H.N. Anderson, the founder of the Oriental Stores and the East Asiatic Co., Ltd.