Si Suriyawongse

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Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Si Suriyawongse (Thai: สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาบรมมหาศรีสุริยวงศ์) (personal name Chuang Bunnag) December 23, 1808 - January 19, 1883) was an important 19th century Thai figure and the regent during the early years of the reign of King Chulalongkorn.

Of Persian descent,^[1] Si Suriyawongse was born the eldest son of Dis (ดิศ) Bunnag (Prayurawong,สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาบรมมหาประยูรวงศ์) and Tan Poo Ying Chan, Chuang was well educated. King Mongkut made him the Minister of the Interior (Kalahom), one of the four classic ministries of old Siam.

After the death of King Mongkut in 1868, his young son Prince Chulalongkorn became the new monarch. However, as the new king was underage, Si Suriyawongse was named as regent, a post he held until 1873.

He died in 1883 in Ratchaburi. Suriyawongse was also the first Thai to have a life insurance, right after King Rama V granted foreign companies the right to extend their insurance business to Siam.

His son Won succeeded him as Kalahom and then also held the title Chao Phraya Suriyawongse.