Statue of Prince Wan Waithayakon, who was also known as Prince Narathip Phongpraphan. He was an Army Major General with the royal rank of Krom Meuan, who after his studies in Europe became a career diplomat, serving as an envoy to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium, and as head of the Thai delegation to the League of Nations, as well as several terms as Thailand's foreign minister.

In addition to being appointed Ambassador to the United States in 1947, he also served concurrently as Ambassador to the United Nations, and in 1956 was elected President of the 11th Session of the United Nations' General Assembly, the first and only Thai national ever to hold this position, whilst also serving as Thailand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.