Background
Thian Hee (Chinese: 黄天喜) (1848–1925) was born in Thailand to a Thai mother and Chinese father.
Thian Hee (Chinese: 黄天喜) (1848–1925) was born in Thailand to a Thai mother and Chinese father.
He is noted as being the first Thai to have studied in America. He finished his studies in medicine at Columbia University in 1871.
He came from a line of wealthy rice traders and pharmacists who had immigrated from Hainan Province, China to reside in the largely mercantile Thonburi province across the river from Bangkok. At a young age he was taken to America by a missionary to pursue his studies. He returned to Thailand as the country"s first ever medical doctor.
He was a prominent military doctor and accompanied the army on expeditions to Laos under Chao Phraya Surasakdi Montri during the Haw Wars of 1865-1890.
A photograph now on view at Vimanmek Palace depicts Thian Hee handing the last bottle of quinine to the commanding general to prove the scarcity of their supplies. Thian Hee later returned to his family profession as a rice trader and became one of the country"s most influential merchants.
He acted as a financial advisor to Queen Savang Vadhana often filling the role of a go-between investor between the Palace and the largely insular Chinese merchant community. In 1925, following his death, he was interred next to the Church in a mausoleum in the family cemetery which still remains to this day.
He was the father of Pote Sarasin who became the first secretary general of Southeast Asia Treaty Organization and the 9th Prime Minister of Thailand.
Thian Hee"s father was a Chinese pharmacist who had immigrated from Hainan in the 19th century. Thian Hee"s official title was Phraya Sarasinsawamiphakh. The title phraya is now obsolete however it is the second highest feudal title a person can be given and is the equivalent of Marquis in the West.