Kitiyakara Voralaksana, Prince of Chanthaburi I was a Prince of Siam, a member of the Siamese Royal Family. He originated the House of Kitiyakara. His descendants use this royal surname. He is the paternal grandfather of Queen Sirikit, consort of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
After returning to Bangkok, he worked in the Office of the Royal Secretariat and Education Office. On 26 April 1902, his father gave him the royal title as Prince of Chanthaburi, translated as Krom Muen Chunthaburi Naruenat
Royal duties
In 1920, he became minister of commerce, according with his excellent ability in commerce and economics. He established the monetary warehouses or banks for common people, savings and deposit to avoid any dangers; like thieves, fires, etc. He promoted saving money to all the people, and he established the Department of Commerce and statistics management service. He outlined the legal regulation of customs, and updated the ministries of revenue and taxation. Then were collected all the levy offices in the one department, in the control of this ministry. Moreover, he provided laws of alcohol and opium control into a government monopoly, thus paving the way for the future ability to enforce the government's opium ban. In the reign of King Prajadhipok, he became a member of the Supreme Council of State of Siam, with his uncles, and his half-brother, including
Moreover, he also worked as the committee of Siamese Royal Institute. He translated the novel Chandrakumarn Chadok from Pali into a Thai version. He created the Pali-Thai-Sanskrit-English Glossary, by using references from the Pali dictionary of R.C. Childers. Later the Pali Pakorn Association published this as the primary edition of dictionary, as the original had not been clearly done. Later, in the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave the responsibility of restoring the original edition to Mom Luang Chirayu Navawongs, member of the Privy Council, joining with the Maha Mongkut Royal College Foundation. This new edition was established, published and now has become widely well-known.
Later life
In his later life, he went to Paris, France, to have his illnesses treated. But he died there peacefully on 27 May 1931. Later, the Minister of Commerce built his statue and erected it to stand in front of the Commerce Ministry building. And the statue can be seen there, still standing today. This is in remembrance of the fact that he was the first Minister of Commerce of Siam, and all he did to protect the savings of common people in Thailand. The official residence of the House of Kitiyakara is Dheves Palace, Bangkok. His descendants continue to live in this palace today.
Marriage and issue
Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana, the Prince of Chunthaburi had 5 consorts, with 24 children; 14 sons and 10 daughters.
