Gongsar[1] Ugyen Wangchuck (Dzongkha: ཨོ་རྒྱན་དབང་ཕྱུག, Wylie: o rgyan dbang phyug; 11 June 1862 – 26 August 1926) was the first Druk Gyalpo (King) and founding father of the Kingdom of Bhutan from 1907 to 1926.

In 1882, after a period of strife and civil war, Ugyen assumed the position as the Penlop of Trongsa, a post his father had held.

Ugyen, now 24, held a decisive victory, eliminated all internal strife, making him the de facto ruler of Bhutan.

[6] On 17 December 1907, Ugyen Wangchuck was elected unanimously by the representatives of the people, the officials and the clergy and enthroned as the first hereditary King of Bhutan in Punakha Dzong.

[8] The British Political Officer for Bhutan was Sir John Claude White until 1908 when he was succeeded by Charles Alfred Bell (1870–1945).

[10] King Ugyen Wangchuck was acutely conscious that Bhutan must to be protected through times of regional conflict and rivalries.

They later returned to Bhutan and became influential geshes (doctorate level) and lamas, serving as radiant sources of Buddhist teachings.

[7] One of the iconic pilgrimage centres of Buddhism is the Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu, a monastic enclave held by Bhutan.

King Ugyen took the initiative to sow the seeds of western education, as well as strengthen the roots of dharma in Bhutan.

[7][12] On 21st August 1926, aged 64, King Ugyen died at Thinley Rabten Palace in Wangdue Phodrang in the lap of his eldest son.

Before his demise he sent large donations to the Central Monastic Body in Punakha and asked his remains to be cremated at the Kurjey Lhakhang in Bumthang.