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. 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.
Return to Denmark at
Church of Holmen, Copenhagen,
DenmarkAndreas left Siam in 1902 on board the Royal yacht
Maha Chakri for Singapore while accompanied by Chulalongkorn and other royal family members. Once in Denmark, be rented then purchased Kokkedal Castle in
North Zealand. He also operated a private railway line from Copenhagen to
Slangerup. In 1922, one of his companies - Landmandsbanken - collapsed and in 1923 he was fined 4,000 Danish Crowns after being convicted of gross negligence by the Danish Supreme Court. Despite being in Denmark, he maintained close relationships with Chulalongkorn and Prince Damrong who both visited him in Denmark, with Prince Damrong making the last visit to Andreas in 1930. He died age 80 on 25 March 1932 in
Hørsholm, Denmark. == Family ==