King Taksin the Great was born on April 17, B.E. 2277, during the reign of His Majesty King Borommakot. His original name was Sin. His father was a Chinese man named Haihong, who later held the noble title Khun Phat (a royal official in charge of gambling tax revenue). His mother’s name was Nok Iang. As he grew up, he served as a royal page (mahatlek), responsible for reporting official matters in the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Court. This gave him knowledge in law and royal bureaucracy, in addition to his knowledge in military affairs, Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer languages, and classical literature. Later, during the reign of King Ekkathat, he was commissioned to travel to the northern provinces to settle disputes. Due to his satisfying performance, he was appointed as Luang Yokkrabat to assist the Governor of Tak, and was subsequently promoted to be the Governor of Tak, and later Phraya Wachiraprakan, Governor of Kamphaeng Phet.

Then in B.E. 2310, when Ayutthaya fell to Burma for the second time, Phraya Wachiraprakan (Sin) gathered troops and successfully reclaimed national independence within seven months. He declared independence after defeating the Burmese at the Battle of Pho Sam Ton Camp and established Krung Thonburi Si Mahasamut as the new capital. He was then crowned as “Phra Si Sanphet Somdet Borom Thammikarat Thirat Ramathibodi Borom Chakraphat Son Bowon Ratchabodin Haririntharat Thapphadi Si Suwibun Khun Ruchit Ritthiramesuan Borom Thammikarat Dechochai Phrom Thepadi Thep Triphuvanadhibet Lokachet Wisutthamakutprathetkatha Mahabuddhankura Borommanat Bophit Phra Phutthachao Yu Hua of Krung Thep Mahanakhon Bowon Thawarawadee Si Ayutthaya Mahadilok Noppharat Ratchathani Buriram Udom Phra Ratchaniwet Mahasathan” or “Somdet Phra Borommaracha IV” or “King Taksin.”