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 .

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.

Biography Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu was born on 24 February 1852 in Løjt Kirkeby, Denmark where his father, Louis du Plessis de Richelieu, was currently the vicar. Andreas' family originated from France and migrated to Norway around 1670 before settling in Denmark. He had a younger brother named who was born on 8 January 1856. Louis would die before his brother on 30 May 1910 at 54. His father would later die in Saint Thomas, Danish West Indies in 1859 at age 38. Andreas was 6–7 years old at the time of his father's death. In 1864, Andreas was student at Roskilde Cathedral School.

Andreas Richelieu would then go on to work in the Merchant Marine where he became a Lieutenant of the Reserve in the Danish marine. During his time as a merchant marine, he would visit Bangkok, Siam where he found himself attracted to Siam.

In 1891, he was chosen by Chulalongkorn as an envoy on a private diplomatic mission to France, Denmark and the Russian Empire along with the king's brother Prince Damrong Rajanubhab. As Chulalongkorn continued to modernize his country, the EAC paid for concessions in industries such as teak tree logging. Andreas also acquired concessions such as building and operating a 21-kilometer railway from Samut Prakan to Bangkok. Hans Niels Andersen and Andreas du Plessis du Richelieu in 1932 Though the project would run out of funds, Chulalongkorn would become a shareholder and invest ฿170,000 (85 million baht adjusted for inflation). The railway was inaugurated in July 1891 and would operate until 1959 where it became a tramline. The company would prove profitable along with the electric tramline it powered, generating 1,200,000 Danish Crowns or around 1,177,000 baht (5.89 billion baht adjusted for inflation). In 1912 the majority of stocks were sold to Belgians. from other countries Legion of Honour (France) Order of the Redeemer (Greece) Order of the Crown of Italy Order of the Crown (Prussia) Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russia) Order of the Sword (Sweden) Order of the Medjidieh (Ottoman Empire) Order of Franz Joseph (Austria-Hungary).