Phin Choonhavan
Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan (Thai: ผิน ชุณหะวัณ; RTGS: Phin Chunhawan; August 14, 1891 – 26 January 1973) was a Thai military leader and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. Phin was a leader of several coups against the government, most notably the 1947 coup. During the Second World War, he commanded the Phayap Army's 3rd Division before being made military governor of the Shan States, which Thailand had occupied during the Burma Campaign.
Phin Choonhavan | |
|---|---|
ผิน ชุณหะวัณ | |
Choonhavan in 1953 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand | |
| In office 6 December 1951 – 19 April 1956 | |
| Prime Minister | Plaek Phibunsongkhram |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 12 December 1953 – 16 September 1957 | |
| Prime Minister | Plaek Phibunsongkhram |
| Preceded by | Pisan Sunavinvivat |
| Succeeded by | Wiboon Thambutra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 August 1891 Si Muen, Ratchaburi, Siam (now Bang Khonthi, Samut Songkhram, Thailand) |
| Died | 26 January 1973 (aged 81) Phramongkutklao Hospital, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, Thailand (now Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand) |
| Children | 6, including Chatichai |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Thailand |
| Branch/service | Royal Thai Army |
| Rank | Field Marshal Admiral Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands | 3rd infantry division Phayap Army Ministry of Defence Royal Thai Armed Forces |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | Military Governor of the Shan States (1943) |
Phin was the son of a Chinese physician, Kai (Chinese: 開) who migrated to Siam from Chaoshan, as was the father of his wife, Lim Hong (Chinese: 林風), who was also an immigrant from Shantou. His son, Chatichai Choonhavan, became Prime Minister of Thailand. His daughter, Udomlak, married Phao Sriyanond, director general of the Thai police. Another daughter, Charoen, married Pramarn Adireksarn, who served as deputy prime minister in several governments.