Thian Hee
Encyclopedia
Thian Hee was also known by his aristocratic
title
Phraya Sarasinsawamiphakh. Thian Hee (Chinese: 黄天喜) (1848–1925) was born in Thailand to a Thai mother and Chinese father. 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 is noted as being the first Thai to have studied in America. He finished his studies in medicine at Columbia University
in 1871. 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. Malaria proved to be a more formidable foe than the Haw and Thian Hee was largely occupied with administering quinine to infected troops. 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. Amongst his activities in Laos as part of an occupational force was the imposition of a partially successful ban on the practice of using witch doctors and witchcraft to heal the local populace of illnesses.
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. He also amassed wealth as a co-founder of Siam Cement
a conglomerate now listed as the second largest company in Thailand. As an act of gratitude to the missionary who had supported him as a child, Thian Hee funded the construction of Thailand's first Presbyterian church - Suebsamphanthawong Church-in 1902 on his own plot of land in Silom. In 1925, following his death, he was enterred next to the Church in a mausoleum in the family cemetery which still remains to this day.
Thian Hee was the founder of the illustrious Sarasin family. He was the father of Pote Sarasin
who became the first secretary general of SEATO 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.
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
title
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
Phraya Sarasinsawamiphakh. Thian Hee (Chinese: 黄天喜) (1848–1925) was born in Thailand to a Thai mother and Chinese father. 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 is noted as being the first Thai to have studied in America. He finished his studies in medicine at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1871. 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
Haw wars
The Haw Wars , so called in Thai, were fought against Chinese quasi-military forces invading parts of Tonkin and Thailand between the years 1865 and 1890.-Invasion of the flags:...
of 1865-1890. Malaria proved to be a more formidable foe than the Haw and Thian Hee was largely occupied with administering quinine to infected troops. A photograph now on view at Vimanmek Palace
Vimanmek Palace
The Vimanmek Palace officially named Vimanmek Mansion, is a former royal palace in Bangkok, Thailand. It is also known as the Vimanmek Teak Mansion or Vimanmek Mansion...
depicts Thian Hee handing the last bottle of quinine to the commanding general to prove the scarcity of their supplies. Amongst his activities in Laos as part of an occupational force was the imposition of a partially successful ban on the practice of using witch doctors and witchcraft to heal the local populace of illnesses.
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. He also amassed wealth as a co-founder of Siam Cement
Siam Cement
The Siam Cement Public Company Limited or SCG is the largest cement company in Thailand. It is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. In 2011, it was also ranked as the 2nd largest company in Thailand and the 620th largest company in the world by Forbes 2000.It was founded under the Royal...
a conglomerate now listed as the second largest company in Thailand. As an act of gratitude to the missionary who had supported him as a child, Thian Hee funded the construction of Thailand's first Presbyterian church - Suebsamphanthawong Church-in 1902 on his own plot of land in Silom. In 1925, following his death, he was enterred next to the Church in a mausoleum in the family cemetery which still remains to this day.
Thian Hee was the founder of the illustrious Sarasin family. He was the father of Pote Sarasin
Pote Sarasin
Pote Sarasin was a Thai diplomat and politician. He served as foreign minister from 1949 to 1951 and then served as ambassador to the United States. In September 1957 when Sarit Thanarat seized power in a military coup, he appointed Pote to be the acting prime minister. He resigned in December 1957...
who became the first secretary general of SEATO and the 9th Prime Minister of Thailand. Thian Hee's father was a Chinese pharmacist
Pharmacy in China
-Counterfeit drugs:Figures in China report almost 200,000 persons are said to have died in 2001 as a consequence of having taken counterfeit drugs.- See also :* Chinese Pharmaceutical Association* Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines...
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.