The Bowring Treaty was a treaty signed between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Siam on 18 April 1855. The treaty had the primary effect of liberalizing foreign trade in Siam, and was signed by five Siamese plenipotentiaries and Sir John Bowring, the British envoy and colonial governor of Hong Kong.
Thai version of the Treaty, written on Thai black books, prior to being sent to Great Britain to be affixed with the Royal seal.
Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)
The Rattanakosin Kingdom, the Kingdom of Siam, or the Bangkok Empire, were names used to reference the fourth and current Thai kingdom in the history of Thailand. It was founded in 1782 with the establishment of Rattanakosin (Bangkok), which replaced the city of Thonburi as the capital of Siam. This article covers the period until the Siamese revolution of 1932.
View of the city of Bangkok in 1822
Photograph of King Mongkut (Rama IV) (r. 1853–1868) in western style uniform
Coronation of King Norodom of Cambodia at Oudong in June 1864
Somdet Chaophraya Si Suriyawong (Chuang Bunnag) emerged to prominent roles after Bowring Treaty of 1855, became regent of young King Chulalongkorn in 1868, given highest rank of Somdet Chaophraya in 1873, and retained powers until his death in 1883.
