Biography of His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol Adulyadej
Somdej Phra Mahitalathibet Adulyadej Vikrom Phra Boromrajchanok was the 69th child of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and Somdej Phra Sri Sawarinthira Boromratchathewi Phra Panwassa Aiyayika Chao.
H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkla was born in the Grand Palace on Friday, of the 3rd lunar month, in the year of the Rabbit, 1 January 1891. He was ordained as a Buddhist novice at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on 20 August 1904.
When he was a young boy, he studied at the Royal School in the Grand Palace. He was later sent to study at Harrow Boarding School, a renowned public boarding school in England, and then he proceeded to study Naval Science in Germany. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Sub-lieutenant in both the imperial German Navy and the Royal Thai Navy. In 1916, he was given the rank of Captain and Colonel of the Royal Thai Army (Royal Guard) and then resigned from the Navy to study Public Health and Medicine at Harvard University, USA. He obtained a Certificate of Public Health and Doctor of Medicine degree Cum Laude, and was appointed a member of the Official Honor Society Medical Study Alpha Omega Alpha as well.
H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkla married Ms. Sangwan Talapat (Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Borommaratchachonnani) on 10 September 1920 at Sra Pathum Palace, with three children, namely:
Her Royal Highness Princess Galayani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Ratchanakarin
His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol Phra Athamaramathibodin
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great
H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkla was the Director General of the Department of Universities, Ministry of Education; Governor Inspector General Education; President of the Faculty of Medicine and Siriraj Hospital; Siam Red Cross Society Committee; Chairman of the Vajira Hospital Board of Directors; Special Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University; and a physician at McCormick Hospital.
H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkla passed away on 24 September 1929, at the age of 37 years, 8 months, 23 days.