Thaksin Shinawatra

Place of Birth: San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Date of Birth: 26 July, 1949

Ethnicity:
*50% Thai
*50% Hakka Chinese

Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessperson and politician. He was Prime Minister of Thailand, from 9 February, 2001 to 19 September, 2006. He was also Minister of Foreign Affairs, from 25 October, 1994 to 10 February, 1995, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, from 13 July, 1995 to 8 November, 1997, Leader of Thai Rak Thai Party, from 14 July, 1998 to 2 October, 2006, and Minister of Education, from 14 June, 2001 to 9 October, 2001. He is also known as Tony Woodsome.

He is the son of Yindi (Ramingwong) and Loet Shinawatra, a politician, who was an MP for Chiang Mai. He is the brother of politician Yingluck Shinawatra, who was also Prime Minister of Thailand, from 5 August, 2011 to 7 May, 2014; and of Yaowapha Shinawatra, who is married to politician Somchai Wongsawat, who was Prime Minister of Thailand, from 18 September, 2008 to 2 December, 2008. He has three children, including billionaire Panthongtae Shinawatra and politician and businessperson Paetongtarn Shinawatra, with his former wife Potjaman na Pombejra (born Potjaman Damapong, formerly Potjama Shinawatra). Paetongtarn has been Prime Minister of Thailand, since 16 August, 2024. Thaksin is a Theravada Buddhist.

Thaksin’s paternal grandfather was named Chiang Saekhu (the son of Seng Saekhu). Chiang was born in Chanthaburi, and founded Shinawatra Silks, and then worked in finance, construction, and property development. Seng was a Chinese emigrant and tax farmer, from Fengshun, Meizhou, Guangdong, of Hakka Chinese descent, who arrived in Siam in the 1860s and Chiang Mai in 1908. He was the son of Chao Saekhu.

Thaksin’s paternal grandmother was named Saeng Samana. Saeng was Thai.

Thaksin’s maternal grandfather was named Wang Chuan Cheng, later Charoen Ramingwong. Charoen was a Chinese immigrant, of Hakka Chinese descent.

Thaksin’s maternal grandmother was Princess Chanthip na Chiangmai (the daughter of Somphamit, the Prince Chaisongkhram, and of Usa na Chiangmai). Princess Chanthip was Thai, of Lanna (Chiang Mai) royalty. Somphamit was the son of Prince Noi-rot na Chiangmai and Princess Ueangphueng na Chiangmai.