Yingluck Shinawatra

Place of Birth: San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Date of Birth: 21 June, 1967

Ethnicity:
*50% Thai
*50% Chinese

Yingluck Shinawatra is a Thai businessperson and politician. She was Prime Minister of Thailand, from 5 August, 2011 to 7 May, 2014, and, previously, Minister of Defence, from 30 June, 2013 to 7 May, 2014.

Yingluck is the daughter of Yindi (Ramingwong) and Loet Shinawatra, a politician, who was an MP for Chiang Mai. She is the sister of politican Thaksin Shinawatra, who was also Prime Minister of Thailand, from 9 February, 2001 to 19 September, 2006; 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. Her niece, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is Thaksin’s daughter, has been Prime Minister of Thailand, since 16 August, 2024. Yingluck is married to executive Anusorn Amornchat, via common-law marriage. Anusorn was executive of Charoen Pokphand Group and managing director of M Link Asia Corporation PCL. The couple has a son.

Yingluck’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.

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

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

Yingluck’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.