Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat NR PChW SR MPCh MWM |
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สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์ | |||
11th Prime Minister of Thailand | |||
In office 9 February 1959 – 8 December 1963 |
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Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej | ||
Preceded by | Thanom Kittikachorn | ||
Succeeded by | Thanom Kittikachorn | ||
Personal details | |||
Born |
Bangkok, Siam |
16 June 1908||
Died | 8 December 1963 Bangkok, Thailand |
(aged 55)||
Nationality | Thai | ||
Spouse(s) | Nuanchan Thanarat (two children), Chawee (two children), Praima (two children)Vichitra Thanarat (no children, but adopted nephew and gave the Thanarat last name) | ||
Profession | Soldier | ||
Religion | Buddhism | ||
Signature | |||
Military service | |||
Allegiance | Thailand | ||
Service/branch | Royal Thai Army | ||
Years of service | 1928 - 1963 | ||
Rank |
Field Marshal (Chom Phol) |
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Commands | Commander-in-chief | ||
Battles/wars | Japanese conquest of Burma | ||
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Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat (Thai: สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์, alternatively spelled Dhanarajata) was a Thai soldier who staged a coup in 1957, replacing Phibunsongkramisa as Thailand's prime minister until his death in 1963. He was born in Bangkok, but grew up in his mother's home town in Lao-speaking northeastern Thailand and considered himself from Isan. His father, Major Luang Ruangdetanan (birth name Thongdi Thanarat), was a career army officer best known for his translations into Thai of Cambodian literature.
Sarit Thanarat was educated at a monastery school, and entered the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1919, not completing his military studies until 1928, after which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. During World War II he served as commander of an infantry battalion and took part in the invasion and occupation of the Shan States in Burma. Unlike many of his fellow officers, Sarit was not discharged at the end of the war. Instead, he was promoted to command the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Bangkok-based Guards Division. As a colonel, he played a leading role in the 1947 military coup that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Thawal Thamrong Navaswadhi, a protege of Pridi Phanomyong, reinstalling the previously deposed Field Marshal Luang Phibunsongkram as premier. Sarit thereafter took a lasting interest in politics. He became Commander of the Royal Thai Army in 1954.
During the early1950s, the Phibun government was experiencing great public discontent as the result of several events. This paved the way for the rise of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat.