Leader of the Lao Issara (Free Lao) movement, Prince Souphanouvong, known as the Red Prince, led the Pathet Lao (Lao People) nationalist organization and was president of the country from December 2, 1975 to October 31, 1986.
Born on July 13, 1909 at Luang Prabang, the royal capital of Laos, then part of French Indochina, Prince Souphanouvong was the son of Boun Khong, the viceroy of Luang Prabang. His mother was a concubine, hence he was not destined to inherit the social position of his brothers. Souphanouvong earned a degree in engineering in Paris from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, returning to Laos in 1938.