Lon Nol - Cambodian Politician, Birthday and Childhood
Lon Nol's Personal Details
Lon Nol was a Cambodian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Cambodia twice and was the self-proclaimed President of Khmer Republic.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | November 13, 1913 |
| Died on | November 17, 1985 |
| Nationality | Cambodian |
| Famous | Leaders, Political Leaders, Prime Ministers, Dictators, Cambodian Politician |
| Siblings | Lon Non |
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Prey Veng Province |
| Political Ideology | Political party - Social Republican Party, Other political - affiliations - Sangkum (until 1970) |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Born in | Prey Veng Province |
| Famous as | Cambodian Politician |
| Died at Age | 72 |
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Lon Nol's photo
Who is Lon Nol?
Lon Nol was a Cambodian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Cambodia twice and was the self-proclaimed President of Khmer Republic. A politician as well as a soldier, he overthrew Prince Norodom Sihanouk and ruled for a few years until his reign came to an end when the Khmer Rouge communists overpowered his army. Born and raised in Cambodia, he joined the French colonial service as a magistrate after completing his secondary school education. He went to serve as a provincial governor and head of the national police. In 1952, he joined the army and carried out military operations against the Viet Min. Later, he became the Cambodian army chief of staff and also served as commander in chief under the country’s leader, Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Subsequently he held a variety of ministerial offices under Sihanouk regime, including that of Minister of Defense, as well as the Prime Minister of Cambodia, a post which he held twice in his career. In 1970, he was one of the chief architects who staged the coup which ousted Sihanouk from power and became the most prominent leader in the new government. Gradually, he assumed total authority over Cambodia and declared himself as the President of Khmer Republic. In the meantime, the communist Khmer Rouge movement gained momentum in the countryside, and with their insurgents on the verge of taking over Cambodia, he fled the country and settled in the United States where he remained until his death
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Childhood & Early Life
Lon Nol was born on November 13, 1913, in Prey Veng Province, to Lon Hin, who served as a district chief in Siem Reap and Kampong Thom. His family belonged to mixed Chinese-Khmer ancestry.
He received his early education from the Lycée Chasseloup-Laubat in Saigon, followed by the Cambodian Royal Military Academy.
Career
In 1937, he was employed with the French colonial civil service and was appointed a magistrate. In 1939, he proved himself to be an efficient enforcer of French rule against a series of anti-colonial disturbances.
By 1946, he rose to the post of Governor of Kratie Province and became an associate of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. In the late 1940s, he set up a pro-independence political group and became increasingly involved in the Cambodian politics.
In 1952, he joined the army and carried out military operations against the Viet Minh. Three years later, he became the army chief of staff and in 1960, he was appointed the commander-in-chief. He became a trusted supporter of Sihanouk and was appointed as the deputy premier in 1963.
In the 1966 parliamentary elections, there occurred a major shift in the balance of power towards Lon Nol and he became the Prime Minister of Cambodia. The following year, his troops were used by Sihanouk to carry out a savage repression of a leftist-inspired revolt in Battambang Province.
In 1967, Lon Nol was injured in a car crash and took temporary retirement. The following year, he returned to the political scene as the Minister of Defense in Sihanouk’s cabinet, a post which he served in for a year.
In 1969, he became the Prime Minister of Cambodia for a second time. In his government, he appointed the vocally anti-Sihanouk and pro-US politician, Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak, as his deputy.
In March 1970, while Sihanouk was abroad, there arose anti-Vietnamese riots in Phnom Penh. Lon Nol and Sirik Matak closed the port of Sihanoukville, through which weapons were being smuggled to the Vietnamese forces and issued an ultimatum against them to leave Cambodia within three days or face military action.
Subsequently, a poll was taken in the National Assembly in which Sihanouk was stripped of his power and Lon Nol assumed the powers of the Head of State on an emergency basis, and The Khmer Republic was founded in October 1970.
The Khmer Republic was founded in order to restore Cambodia's sovereignty in its eastern regions but turned out to be a disaster, both militarily and politically.
In 1971, Lon Nol's health started to decline after he suffered a stroke and his rule became increasingly unreliable and dictatorial. He suspended the National Assembly and also insisted on supervising many of the Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK) operations personally.
For the next few years, Lon Nol's regime ruled over Cambodia but became completely dependent upon large quantities of American aid which became scarce over the years due to political and military issues. In the meantime, Sihanouk formed a government-in-exile, the GRUNK, incorporating the Khmer Rouge communists.
Over time, the republic’s power weakened and in April 1975, after getting to know that Khmer Rouge insurgents were on the verge of occupying Cambodia and he was the first person on their list to be executed after gaining power, Lon Nol resigned as the President of the Khmer Republic and went into exile.
Initially, he escaped to Indonesia and then traveled to the United States. In 1979, he settled in Fullerton, California, where he resided until his death.
Personal Life & Legacy
At the time of death, he was married to Sovanna Lon, his second wife, and was the father of nine children.
He died from a heart problem on November 17, 1985, in Fullerton, California, United States. He was buried at the Loma Vista Memorial Park.
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Lon Nol biography timelines
- // 13th Nov 1913Lon Nol was born on November 13, 1913, in Prey Veng Province, to Lon Hin, who served as a district chief in Siem Reap and Kampong Thom. His family belonged to mixed Chinese-Khmer ancestry.
- // 1937 To 1939In 1937, he was employed with the French colonial civil service and was appointed a magistrate. In 1939, he proved himself to be an efficient enforcer of French rule against a series of anti-colonial disturbances.
- // 1946By 1946, he rose to the post of Governor of Kratie Province and became an associate of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. In the late 1940s, he set up a pro-independence political group and became increasingly involved in the Cambodian politics.
- // 1952 To 1963In 1952, he joined the army and carried out military operations against the Viet Minh. Three years later, he became the army chief of staff and in 1960, he was appointed the commander-in-chief. He became a trusted supporter of Sihanouk and was appointed as the deputy premier in 1963.
- // 1966In the 1966 parliamentary elections, there occurred a major shift in the balance of power towards Lon Nol and he became the Prime Minister of Cambodia. The following year, his troops were used by Sihanouk to carry out a savage repression of a leftist-inspired revolt in Battambang Province.
- // 1967In 1967, Lon Nol was injured in a car crash and took temporary retirement. The following year, he returned to the political scene as the Minister of Defense in Sihanouk’s cabinet, a post which he served in for a year.
- // 1969In 1969, he became the Prime Minister of Cambodia for a second time. In his government, he appointed the vocally anti-Sihanouk and pro-US politician, Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak, as his deputy.
- // Mar 1970In March 1970, while Sihanouk was abroad, there arose anti-Vietnamese riots in Phnom Penh. Lon Nol and Sirik Matak closed the port of Sihanoukville, through which weapons were being smuggled to the Vietnamese forces and issued an ultimatum against them to leave Cambodia within three days or face military action.
- // Oct 1970Subsequently, a poll was taken in the National Assembly in which Sihanouk was stripped of his power and Lon Nol assumed the powers of the Head of State on an emergency basis, and The Khmer Republic was founded in October 1970.
- // 1971In 1971, Lon Nol's health started to decline after he suffered a stroke and his rule became increasingly unreliable and dictatorial. He suspended the National Assembly and also insisted on supervising many of the Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK) operations personally.
- // Apr 1975Over time, the republic’s power weakened and in April 1975, after getting to know that Khmer Rouge insurgents were on the verge of occupying Cambodia and he was the first person on their list to be executed after gaining power, Lon Nol resigned as the President of the Khmer Republic and went into exile.
- // 1979Initially, he escaped to Indonesia and then traveled to the United States. In 1979, he settled in Fullerton, California, where he resided until his death.
- // 17th Nov 1985He died from a heart problem on November 17, 1985, in Fullerton, California, United States. He was buried at the Loma Vista Memorial Park.
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Lon Nol's FAQ
What is Lon Nol birthday?
Lon Nol was born at 1913-11-13
When was Lon Nol died?
Lon Nol was died at 1985-11-17
Where was Lon Nol died?
Lon Nol was died in Fullerton
Which age was Lon Nol died?
Lon Nol was died at age 72
Where is Lon Nol's birth place?
Lon Nol was born in Prey Veng Province
What is Lon Nol nationalities?
Lon Nol's nationalities is Cambodian
Who is Lon Nol siblings?
Lon Nol's siblings is Lon Non
Which company or organization was founded by Lon Nol?
Lon Nol was the founder/co-founder of Social Republican Party
What is Lon Nol's political ideology?
Lon Nol's political ideology is Political party - Social Republican Party, Other political - affiliations - Sangkum (until 1970)
What is Lon Nol's sun sign?
Lon Nol is Scorpio
How famous is Lon Nol?
Lon Nol is famouse as Cambodian Politician