Rapee’s Day

Each year on August 7, Thailand's lawyers will pay tribute to Prince Rapee Pattanasak, the father of Thailand's modern legal system.

Prince Rapee, a son of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, was born on October 21, 1874. After he has obtained his secondary education in SuanKularb Palace School in Bangkok, he  went on to study law at Christchurch College, Oxford University. He came back to Thailand and became the Minister of Justice in 1896 at the age of 22. He had held the position for about 14 years in total.

Prince Rapee took initiatives on establishment of the first law school in the country in 1897. He drew up a syllabus and taught students himself. In his 14 years in the office, he has laid a firm foundation for the Thai legal education and also the legal system.

In 1911, King Vajiravudh, Rama VI, appointed Prince Rapee as the Minister of Agriculture. He promoted systemization of land title deeds and ownership, and initiated the Royal Irrigation Department and many projects to aid farmers. He fell ill in 1920 and later resigned from active services. He went to Paris for medical care and passed away on August 7 in the same year.