Chaophraya Surasakmontri

Chaophraya Surasakmontri (28 March 1851 – 1 July 1931), born as Choem Saeng-chuto, was a Thai field marshal, nobleman, and businessman. He was best known in Haw wars campaign. He served as Commander of the Department of the Army from 1890 to 1892, and as Minister of Agriculture afterwards. He established a sawmill in Si Racha in 1900.

The city of Chaophraya Surasak in Chonburi is named after him.

Biography
Chaophraya Surasakmontri was born in 1851 in Thonburi, Rattanakosin Kingdom, to his father Phraya Surasakmontri (Sang Chuto) and mother Doem Bunnak. He is the grandson of Phraya Surasena (Sawat Chuto).

As a child, he received education at Wat Phichai Yat until the age of 13.

In 1878, he was appointed as the chargé d'affaires to the British Empire to negotiate with the British consular general George Knox.

In 1900, Chaophraya Surasakmontri came to the area of the modern town and built a sawmill under his company Si Racha Capital Company Limited. In 1903, he requested that the district capital of Bang Phra district be moved to Si Racha, which it did.

In 1902, King Chulalongkorn gave orders to Chaophraya Surasakmontri to quell the Ngiao rebellion in Phrae province in northern Thailand against Siamese rule and centralization. He would reclaim rebel controlled land, with the leader of Phrae, Chao Phiriya Thepphawong, fleeing into Luang Phrabang.

Chaophraya Surasakmontri died on 1 July 1931. His funeral was held on 8 April 1931 at Wat Thepsirinthrawat.

Honours

 * 1895 - Order of Chula Chom Klao - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
 * 1901 - Order of the White Elephant - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant
 * 1889 - Order of the Crown of Thailand - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
 * 1898 - Haw Campaign Medal (Thailand) ribbon.png Haw Campaign Medal
 * 1906 - Ribbon bar of Dushdi Mala - Military, Service to the Monarch (Thailand).svg Dushdi Mala Medal Pin of Services to the Monarch (Military)
 * 1906 - Ribbon bar of Dushdi Mala - Military, Service to the Nation (Thailand).svg Dushdi Mala Medal Pin of Service to the Nation (Military)
 * 1906 - Ribbon bar of Dushdi Mala - Military, Service to the Monarch (Thailand).svg Dushdi Mala Medal Pin of Acts of Bravery (Military)
 * 1895 - Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakra Mala Medal
 * 1899 - Chakrabarti Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakrabarti Mala Medal
 * 1926 - Saradul Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Saradul Mala Medal
 * 1906 - King Rama IV Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Mongkut's Royal Cypher Medal, 5th Class
 * 1893 - King Rama V Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Chulalongkorn's Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class
 * 1922 - King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Vajiravudh's Royal Cypher Medal, 1st Class
 * 1927 - King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Prajadhipok's Royal Cypher Medal, 2nd Class
 * 1882 - Centenary Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Satabarsa Mala Medal
 * 1883 - Silver Jubilee Medal (Thailand).svg Rajadapisekmala Medal
 * 1897 - Prabas Mala Medal ribbon.png Prapasmala Medal
 * 1898 - Queen's Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Queen's Medal
 * 1903 - Dvidhabhisek Medal ribbon.svg Taweethapisek Medal
 * 1897 - Record Reign Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Ratchamongkol Medal
 * 1908 - 40 Year Reign Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Rajamangala Bhisek Medal
 * 1911 - King Rama VI Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VI Coronation Medal
 * 1925 - King Rama VII Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama VII Coronation Medal