George Dupont: The Only Thai to Fight in the US Civil War [S7.E59] (Classic Recast)

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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