Abhakara Kiartivongse

Abhakara Kiartivongse
Prince of Siam Prince of Chumphon
HRH Prince of Chumphon
Minister of the Royal Siamese Navy
In office	1 April 1923 – 19 May 1923
Acting	1 October 1922 – 31 March 1923
Predecessor	Bhanurangsi Savangwongse as the director-general
Successor	Asdang Dejavudh as the director-general
Born	December 19, 1880 Bangkok, Siam
Died	May 19, 1923 (age 43) Chumphon, Siam
Spouse	Princess Dibya Sambandha and 5 other concubines
House	Chakri Dynasty House of Abhakara
Father	Chulalongkorn (Rama V)
Mother	Mod Bunnag

Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon, (19 December 1880 – 19 May 1923), (Thai: พระองค์เจ้าอาภากรเกียรติวงศ์, rtgs: Phra Ong Chao Aphakon Kiattiwong, Full title in Thai: พระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าอาภากรเกียรติวงศ์ กรมหลวงชุมพรเขตอุดมศักดิ์), was the 28th child of King Chulalongkorn

His familiar other names, Sadej Tia ("Royal Father") or Doctor Phon or Prince of Chumphon, will command deep respect from Thai people from navy officers to rural villagers.

He spent his early years studying Naval warfare in England. He returned to Siam to serve in the Royal Siamese Navy and contributed significantly to the advancement and modernization of the Navy. In 1922 he saw that Sattahip Bay was a strategic place for the establishment a Naval base and offered Royal land in Sattahip in order to build the present-day naval facilities. In honor of his contributions, the Prince was proclaimed "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". The Royal Prince Admiral went to England to personally negotiate the purchase of the Phra Ruang destroyer, one of the early ships of the Royal Thai Navy and command the ship during its subsequent voyage from England to Thailand.

In addition to his career in the navy, Prince of Chumphon studied medicine. He was particularly interested in the use of herbal medicine in treating his patients. As "Doctor Phon", he provided medical treatment to people of all classes and races.