Sunthorn Phu (1786-1855) was a court poet under Rama II, III and IV, and remains Thailands most celebrated poet. Phu's career as a royal poet began in the reign of King Rama II, and when the king died, he resigned from the role and became a monk. Twenty years later, in the reign of King Rama III, he returned to court as a royal scribe, where he remained for the rest of his life. Phu was especially renowned for composing verse, and his conventions in epic poetry are popular in Thailand to the present day. His canonical works include Nirat Phukaothong (a collection of poems depicting his journey to the Golden Mountain), Nirat Suphan (depicting his journey to Suphanburi Province), and the Phra Aphai Mani saga. Sunthorn Phu composed his most famous work, Phra Apaimanee, on the nearby island of Ko Samet.