Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix
Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix (24 October 1805 – 18 June 1862) was a French Catholic missionary who served as vicar apostolic of Eastern Siam (now part of Thailand).
Born in Combertault, France, he joined the Society of Foreign Missions and was ordained a priest on 31 May 1828. On 3 June 1838 he was named Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam and titular bishop of Mallus, and he was consecrated that day by Bishop Jean-Paul Courvezy. On 10 September 1841 he succeeded Courvezy and became vicar apostolic of Eastern Siam.
Pallegoix was highly regarded by King Mongkut, and the king often discussed issues with him. The king attended Pallegoix’s funeral. In his writings about Siam, Pallegoix described the government as highly centralized and autocratic, with the king seen as powerful and almost god-like. Court audiences were formal: courtiers knelt or prostrated, and those who did not risk punishment.
Pallegoix died in Bangkok on 18 June 1862 at the age of 56. His work helped establish the Catholic presence in Siam and fostered relations between Thai rulers and European missionaries.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:27 (CET).