George Dupont: The Only Thai to Fight in the US Civil War [S5.E46]

We recount the fascinating story of George DuPont, the only
Thai person who fought in the American Civil War. The first
record of George in the U.S. is in 1859, but almost nothing is
known of how or why he ended up in the United States. We know
that in 1862 he volunteered for a New Jersey regiment to fight
for the North in the American Civil War. Shockingly, he fought in
and survived the battles of Antietam, Chancellorville, and
Gettysburg, three of the bloodiest battles of the war. He was
eventually naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1869.


He subsequently returned to Thailand, or Siam as it was
known, and worked a variety of jobs, from writer for an English
language newspaper to a drillmaster to a timber dealer. He died
at age 56, and you can still see his grave in the Bangkok
Protestant Cemetery on Charoen Krung 72/5. 


George DuPont represents a fascinating glimpse into the
lives of early Thai immigrants to America. Greg and Ed surmise
that there must have been immigrants before him, equally or more
interesting! One way or another, we'll find them and tell their
stories on the Bangkok Podcast. :)


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