Background |
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Waghor Village is the site of a memorial where the name King Mongkut, or King Rama IV, was recorded in history and became well-known worldwide, bringing honour and prestige to himself and Thailand, and this place has remained the pride of Thai people until today. This was the place King Mongkut visited by a royal boat, "the Akharatchworadetch" to prove the accuracy of his computation of the place and time of a total solar eclipse. The King had computed, 2 years before, that there would be a total solar eclipse on Tuesday in the ten lunar month, on the first waxing Moon night of the Year of the Dragon in the Chula Era 1230, corresponding to August 18th, 1868. The centre of the eclipse would appear in proximity to Waghor Village in Prachuab Khiri Khan Province in the Kingdom of Siam or on the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula, at northern latitude 11 degrees and 38 minutes and eastern longitude 99 degrees and 39 minutes. The eclipse would start at 10.04 a.m., and it would become a full eclipse at 11.36.20 a.m., or the whole phenomenon would last for 6 minutes and 45 seconds. The eclipse would start to dissolve at 1.37.45 p.m. There is no evidence of a similar kind of computation from Western countries.
At the time, Thai people and foreigners were waiting to prove the accuracy of the King's computation. When the day of the expected eclipse came near, the King had Chao Phraya Srisuriyavonge build a camp in advance. The King himself made use of this camp as his outdoor science laboratory and as a gathering place for scientists and foreign diplomats. His computation of the time of the eclipse turned out to be accurate and this made his name well known far and wide. Foreign guests were able to observe his talent in science despite the shortage of efficient scientific equipment. His contribution to the study of science was widely accepted by scientists and learned people far and wide. However, after this event, the Thai people had to face a great loss because 5 days after his return to Bangkok, the King became sick and died of malaria on October 1st, 1868. In memory of the King and this important historical event at Waghor, the Cabinet, on May 16th, 1989, approved a project to establish the King Mongkut Science Park at Waghor and on May 3rd, 1990, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej named this place, the "King Mongkut Science Park at Waghor, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province". On June 16th, 1993, the Ministry of Education announced the establishment of the Park as an educational institute as a way of honouring King Mongkut, "the Father of Thai Science". The institute is currently affiliated to the Office for the Promotion of Non-formal Education. |
