00:00You might not know his name, but Chon Pathe's Palakwa was an important figure in 19th century Siam, now Thailand.
00:08He was born in 1805 in France and became a Catholic priest in 1828.
00:14In 1830, he traveled to Siam as a missionary.
00:17He learned Thai so he could understand the people and their culture.
00:20He is famous for his close friendship with King Monggut.
00:23He taught the king Latin and in return, the king taught him Thai.
00:27This friendship gave him a special place at the royal court.
00:31He also worked for the Catholic Church, representing the Vatican in Thailand.
00:35He built churches, helped set up Christian hospitals, and promoted education.
00:40He wrote important books, including a Thai-French-English dictionary.
00:44These books are still useful today for learning about Siam and its history.
00:48He is remembered for connecting Thailand, Europe, and the Catholic Church.
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