Thailand: Khaw Soo Chiang (Kho Suchiang) Na Ranong (1797-1882), ethnic Chinese founder of the Setthi Na Ranong family, 19th century. Khaw Soo Cheang was a Chinese immigrant from Zhangzhou, Fujian Province. He left China at the age of 25, first arriving in Penang before moving to Siam in 1822. Soo Cheang started a highly successful tin mining and shipping business, and was appointed governor of Ranong Province by King Mongkut in 1854, who also gave him the princely title of Phraya Na Ranong. His family, the Khaw Na Ranong Family became one of Thailand's most prominent Thai Chinese families.
Khaw Soo Cheang was a Chinese immigrant from Zhangzhou, Fujian Province. He was an officer of the Small Swords Secret Society, which was fighting to restore the Ming Dynasty. In 1810 he arrived in Penang and stayed in Sungai Tiram where he engaged in small-scale vegetable farming. Once a week Khaw Soo Cheang would take his produce down to Jelutong to sell. Khaw Soo Cheang subsequently went into trading and started a small sundries shop business under the name of Koe Guan. Subsequently he started trading up the coast of what is today Southern Thailand. Khaw Soo Cheang had six sons, of which Khaw Sim Cheng was the eldest, Khaw Sim Kong the second, Khaw Sim Chua the third, Khaw Sim Khim the fourth, Khaw Sim Teik the fifth, and Khaw Sim Bee the sixth. The eldest son Sim Cheng is believed to be the son by his China born wife who remains unknown to the descendants today. Sim Kong, Sim Chua, Sim Khim and Sim teik are the sons of his wife Sit Kim Lean who is venerated by the descendants as the lady ancestor and is buried in Ranong. Sim Bee his youngest son was from one of his Thai Wives. From trading Khaw Soo Cheang diversified into tin mining, shipping and supplying immigrant labourers. In 1844 he was appointed Royal Collector of tin royalties in the Ranong area, and received the title Luang Ratanasethi. In 1854 King Mongkut made him governor of Ranong and elevated him to the rank of Phra. At the time Ranong was subordinate to Chumphon province, but in 1864 it was elevated to full provincial status, and Khaw Soo Cheang became a Phraya. He successfully defended the new province against being invaded and annexed by the Burmese. The family became close to the Thai royal court, especially Prince Damrong, who stayed at the family home in Penang, which was named Chakrabong in honour of the Thai royal family. in 1872 Khaw Soo Cheang who was then an old man of 81 sailed back to China where he married an 18-year-old girl.
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