Wee Thian Hee (, (1848–1925)) or in Thai known as Thianhee Sarasin (; ) was also known by his

noble title Traditional rank amongst European imperiality, royalty, peers, and nobility is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and among geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to anoth ...

Phraya Sarasinsawamiphak, was born in Thailand to a Chinese father. He came from a line of wealthy rice traders and pharmacists who had immigrated from

Hainan Hainan is an island provinces of China, province and the southernmost province of China. It consists of the eponymous Hainan Island and various smaller islands in the South China Sea under the province's administration. The name literally mean ...

Province, China to reside in the largely mercantile

Thonburi __NOTOC__ Thonburi () is an area of modern Bangkok. During the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Kingdom of Ayutthaya, its location on the right (west) bank at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River had made it an important garrison town, which is ref ...

across the river from Bangkok. At a young age he was taken to the US by a missionary to pursue his studies. He is noted as being the first Thai to have studied in the US. He finished his studies in medicine at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in 1871. He returned to Thailand as the country's first ever medical doctor. He became a prominent military doctor and accompanied the army on expeditions to Laos under Chao Phraya Surasakdi Montri during the

Haw Wars The Haw Wars () were fought against Chinese quasi-military refugee gangs invading parts of Tonkin and the Laos from 1865–1890. Forces invading Lao domains were ill-disciplined and freely demolished Buddhist temples. Not knowing these were r ...

of 1865-1890.

Malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

proved to be a more formidable foe than the Haw and Thian Hee was largely occupied with administering quinine to afflicted troops. A photograph now on view at

Vimanmek Mansion The Vimanmek Mansion (, ) is a former royal villa in Bangkok, Thailand. It is in the Dusit Palace complex in Dusit District. it has been dismantled to allow for foundation repairs and will be rebuilt upon its completion. History In 1897 King Ra ...

depicts Thian Hee handing the last bottle of

quinine Quinine is a medication used to treat malaria and babesiosis. This includes the treatment of malaria due to ''Plasmodium falciparum'' that is resistant to chloroquine when artesunate is not available. While sometimes used for nocturnal leg ...

to the commanding general to prove the scarcity of their supplies. Among his activities in Laos as part of an occupational force was the imposition of a partially successful ban on the practice of using

witch doctor A witch doctor (also spelled witch-doctor), or witchcraft doctor, is a kind of magical healer who treats ailments believed to be caused by witchcraft. The term is often misunderstood, and they could more accurately be called "anti-witch doctors ...

s and

witchcraft Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...

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 Sri Savarindira (; , 10 September 1862 – 17 December 1955), also known as Savang Vadhana (; ). She was a half-sister and queen of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). After her first grandson's accession to power in 1935, she became known as Her Ma ...

, often serving as intermediary between the palace and the largely insular Chinese merchant community. He amassed wealth as a co-founder of Siam Cement, a conglomerate now 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 fourth Presbyterian church, Suebsamphanthawong Church, in 1902 on his own plot of land in

Si Lom Si Lom Road (also written as Silom, , ) is a major street in Bangkok, Thailand. The road is best known for its commerecial neighbourhood, which, along with the nearby and roughly parallel Sathon Road, forms one of the city's main business distr ...

. In 1925, following his death, he was interred next to the church in a mausoleum in the family cemetery. Thian Hee was the founder of the illustrious Sarasin family. He was the father of

Pote Sarasin Pote Sarasin (25 March 1905 – 28 September 2000) was the ninth prime minister of Thailand from September 1957 to December 1957. He belonged to the influential Sarasin family. He served as foreign minister from 1949 to 1950 and then served as ...

who became the first secretary general of

SEATO The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was an international organization for collective defense in Southeast Asia created by the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty signed in September 1954 in Manila, Philippines. The formal insti ...

and the ninth prime minister of Thailand. Thian Hee's official title was

Phraya The Thai nobility was a social class comprising titled officials (''khunnang'', ) in the service of Thai monarchy, the monarchy. They formed part of a hierarchical social system which developed from the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th century � ...

Sarasinsawamiphakh. The title "phraya" is now obsolete. It was the second highest feudal title a person could be given and is the equivalent of "

marquis A marquess (; ) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or wido ...

" in the West.

References

Further reading