Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu
Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu (24 February 1852 – 25 March 1932) was a Danish naval officer and businessman who became a Siamese admiral and minister of the navy. He was granted the Thai noble title Phraya Chonlayutthayothin (Thai: พระยาชลยุทธโยธินทร์).
Vice Admiral Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu | |
|---|---|
Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu in 1903 | |
| Commander of the Navy Department | |
| In office 16 January 1900 – 29 January 1901 | |
| Monarch | Chulalongkorn |
| Preceded by | Prachak Silapakhom |
| Succeeded by | Bhanurangsi Savangwongse |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 February 1852 Løjt Kirkeby, Denmark |
| Died | 25 March 1932 (aged 80) Hørsholm, Denmark |
| Resting place | Church of Holmen |
| Spouse | Dagmar Therese Louise Lerche |
| Children | Louis Armand • Helge • Dagmar • Agnes Ingeborg • Lilian Agenete • Louis |
| Profession | Navy officer Businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Denmark Siam |
| Branch/service | Royal Danish Navy Royal Siamese Navy |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
He commanded forces at the Phra Chulachomklao Fortress in the Paknam Incident of 13 July 1893, that ended the Franco-Siamese crisis, and went on to become the first and only foreign-born commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, from 16 January 1900 to 29 January 1901.
In 1884, he co-established the East Asiatic Company with fellow Danish Hans Niels Andersen and would go on to operate Siam Electricity and several railway lines in both Siam and Denmark. During his time in Siam, he formed closed relationships with King Chulalongkorn and Prince Damrong. He returned to Denmark in 1902, suffering from malaria. He died at Kokkedal House in Hørsholm and is buried at Holmens Cemetery in Copenhagen.
Botanist Ernst Johannes Schmidt in 1901, circumscribed Richelia, which is a genus of nitrogen-fixing, filamentous, heterocystous and cyanobacteria and named in Richelieu's honour.