Ascended the throne in 1926  after the death of his father, the first king, Ugyen Wangchuck . Jigme Wangchuck was the eldest son of his father. He received a good education, was erudite, read English, Indian and Buddhist literature. During his reign, Bhutan continued to be almost completely isolated from the outside world, limited to very meager relations with Great Britain , and after India gained independence in 1947, with India. He was succeeded by his son Jigme Dorji Wangchuck