King Taksin the Great was born on 17 April 1834 B.E. (2277 B.E.) during the reign of King Boromkhot of Ayutthaya. His birth name was Sin. His father was a Chinese man named Hai Hong, later granted the title Khun Phat (tax officer of the gambling tax). His mother’s name was Nok Yiang. Upon growing up, he served as a court page, responsible for reporting administrative matters in the Ministry of the Interior and the Royal Court, which gave him knowledge of law and government procedures, in addition to military skills, Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer languages, and literature. During the reign of King Ekathat, he was entrusted with judicial duties in the northern provinces. His work satisfied the king, and he was subsequently appointed as Luang Yokkrabat to assist Phraya Tak, and later became the governor of Tak and Phraya Wachiraprakan, governor of Kamphaeng Phet, respectively.

In 1767 (2310 B.E.), when Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese for the second time, Phraya Wachiraprakan (Sin) gathered troops and restored independence within seven months. After defeating the Burmese at the Pho Sam Ton camp, he declared independence, established Thonburi as the capital, and was crowned with the full royal title: “Phra Si Sanphet Somdet Borommaratchami Krasat Ramathibodi Boromchakrapat Sorn Bowon Ratchabodin Haririndrathadathibodi Si Suwiboon Khun Rujitra Ritthiramesuan Boromthammikaratchadechochai Phromthepadi Thep Triphuwanathibeth Lokchesadvisut Makut Prathetkota Mahaputthangkura Boromnatbopit Phra Buddha Chao Yu Hua Na Krung Thepmahanakhon Baworn Thawarawadi Si Ayutthaya Mahadilok Nopparat Ratchathani Buriram Udom Phra Ratchanives Mahasathan” or simply “Somdet Phra Boromracha Thi 4,” commonly known as King Taksin.