Robert Hunter (27 November 1792 – 7 September 1848) was a Scottish merchant and unofficial diplomat in
Siam
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 mi ...
during the reign of
King Rama III
Nangklao ( th, พระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว, ; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), birth name Thap ( th, ทับ), also styled Rama III, was the third king of Siam ...
. Hunter settled in Bangkok in 1824 and served as an intermediary between Westerners and the court until his departure from the country in 1844 over a trade dispute with the king.
Family background and settlement in Siam
Robert Hunter was born into a family of established Scottish merchants, active since the early 18th century. The Hunters had exported tobacco from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
to France, an enterprise ended by the
American War of Independence
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
, and then turned to manufacturing glass, cotton and linen from their base in
Neilston
Neilston ( sco, Neilstoun, gd, Baile Nèill, ) is a village and parish in East Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is in the Levern Valley, southwest of Barrhead, south of Paisley, and south-southwest of Renfrew, at t ...
, southwest of
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
. Robert went east to begin his commercial career: first to India, then to newly-founded
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
where he established Hunter–Watt & Co.
While Hunter was living in Singapore, the
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...
sent its first
diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually deno ...
to the
Kingdom of Siam Kingdom of Siam may refer to:
* Sukhothai Kingdom (1238–1351)
* Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351–1767)
* Thonburi Kingdom (1768–1782)
* Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)
* Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and official ...
, but it failed to secure a treaty with
King Rama II
Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai ( th, พระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย, 24 February 1767 – 21 July 1824), personal name Chim ( th, ฉิม), also styled as Rama II, was the second monarch of Siam under the Chakri ...
for trading rights. In July 1824,
Rama III
Nangklao ( th, พระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว, ; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), birth name Thap ( th, ทับ), also styled Rama III, was the third king of Siam ...
succeeded to the throne in Bangkok, and Hunter arrived in August, bearing the calculated gift of a thousand muskets for the new king, who was preparing for war with the
Burmese. After speaking with the Phra Klang (Minister of the Treasury), Hunter was granted the right to trade with foreigners on behalf of the king and nobility, and he was permitted to live in Bangkok. The king ordered a three-story construction erected on the west bank of the
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand.
Et ...
for Hunter's business and residence.
Role in diplomacy
Hunter also secured permission from the king for other Europeans to build on the river bank, and many moved from floating houses into new structures. He lived in the
Kudi Chin 250px, Santa Cruz Church and Kudi Chin community as seen from opposite side ( Pak Khlong Talat)
Kudi Chin ( th, กุฎีจีน, ) or Kadi Chin (, ), also spelled "Kudee Jeen", etc. is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok. It is in Wat Kanl ...
community, initially owning a large floating house before moving into a Western-style building upon its completion in 1840. His emporium was well known among the populace. Westerners came to refer to Hunter's prominent building as the British
factory
A factory, manufacturing plant or a production plant is an industrial facility, often a complex consisting of several buildings filled with machinery, where workers manufacture items or operate machines which process each item into another. T ...
; in absence of a British embassy or formal Anglo-Siamese diplomatic relations, Hunter personally managed the exchange of goods and visitors between Singapore – the nearest British
entrepôt
An ''entrepôt'' (; ) or transshipment port is a port, city, or trading post where merchandise may be imported, stored, or traded, usually to be exported again. Such cities often sprang up and such ports and trading posts often developed into co ...
– and Bangkok. He was known for his hospitality to Western visitors and would entertain them: often taking them sailing on his 30-ton
cutter, ''Friends'', going on shooting expeditions, playing cards, dining and drinking.
![Portrait_of_Lady_Angelina_Sap](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Portrait_of_Lady_Angelina_Sap.jpg)
In 1825, Hunter married a half-Portuguese, half-Siamese woman named Angelina Sap who was from a respected Portuguese family and a descendant of
Constantine Phaulkon
Constantine Phaulkon (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος Γεράκης, ''Konstantinos Gerakis''; γεράκι is the Greek word for "falcon"; 1647 – 5 June 1688, also known as Costantin Gerachi, ''Capitão Falcão'' in Portuguese and simply as ' ...
, the 17th-century adventurer in Siam. Through his wife, Hunter learned Portuguese and Thai. There were no other English-speakers present at court, so his fluency in Thai made him crucial in trade and diplomacy between Siamese nobles and visiting merchants.
His privileged position enabled him to guide diplomatic and Christian missions entering the country. He aided
Henry Burney's successful
treaty mission in 1826, and the
governor of Singapore
The Governors of Singapore were the political leaders of Singapore during its pre-independence phase in the history of Singapore.
Residents of Singapore (1819–1826)
The Resident of Singapore ruled the British colony that is today the Republi ...
later praised Hunter for a history of "infinite service in our negotiation with
ama III. Hunter was also lauded in Siam, receiving the noble title ''
Luang Awutwiset'' in 1831, which signified his service to the kingdom in supplying weapons. In 1842, he helped negotiate for the restoration of the
Sultan of Kedah
The Kedah Sultanate (كسلطانن قدح) is a Muslim dynasty located in the Malay Peninsula. It was originally an independent state, but became a British protectorate in 1909. Its monarchy was abolished after it was added to the Malayan Uni ...
after 20 years of
Siamese occupation.
"Discovery" of Siamese twins
Hunter is credited with bringing the original
Siamese twins
Conjoined twins – sometimes popularly referred to as Siamese twins – are twins joined ''in utero''. A very rare phenomenon, the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 49,000 births to 1 in 189,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence ...
to global attention. In 1824, he was sailing up the Chao Phraya River at dusk when he saw a "strange animal" – in actuality the shirtless twins bathing. He befriended Chang and Eng, their mother and family, and he told them many stories of the wonders of the western world. He recognized the potential profit in exhibiting them publicly and sought permission from them, their family and the king to bring them to Britain. While the twins and their family were willing, it took five years to secure permission from the king. Hunter's partner in this business venture was American sea captain Abel Coffin. Coffin and Hunter sailed to
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
with the twins in the summer of 1829. They signed a contract with the brothers for a five-year tour, and the value of the contract is disputed. Hunter and Coffin said it was for $3,000, but Chang and Eng said it was for $500.
Hunter and Coffin traveled with Chang and Eng, exhibiting them in Boston, New York and London. After success in London, Coffin went with Chang and Eng on a tour of the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...
. While in Scotland, the twins stayed as guests at the Hunter family home in
Neilston
Neilston ( sco, Neilstoun, gd, Baile Nèill, ) is a village and parish in East Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is in the Levern Valley, southwest of Barrhead, south of Paisley, and south-southwest of Renfrew, at t ...
, but Hunter had stayed behind in London. His business in Siam took priority, and he departed on 28 September 1830, bound for Bangkok via Singapore. In 1831, Coffin bought out Hunter's share in the venture. Nevertheless, Hunter remained in contact with the twins and their family in Siam, regularly corresponding with all parties well into the 1840s.
Origins of conflict with Rama III
Hunter partnered in trade with another British merchant, James Hayes. The
Burney Treaty
The treaty between Kingdom of Siam and Great Britain commonly known as the Burney Treaty was signed at Bangkok on 20 June 1826 by Henry Burney, an agent of British East India Company, for Britain, and King Rama III for Siam. It followed an earlie ...
granted more trading privileges for all British merchants in Singapore, but Hunter & Hayes dominated the market in Bangkok. They had a monopoly on imports from Britain, which were limited to shipments of textiles from Liverpool, but their business was overwhelmingly in exports, in part because they had a monopoly on the European-type square-rigged vessels which the
king's court
King's Square is an open area in the city centre of York, in England. It is popular with tourists, who are often entertained by buskers and street performers. Nikolaus Pevsner notes that "the square has trees, which distinguishes it". The Y ...
could use for trade.
In September 1835, an American captain was severely wounded after shooting two pigeons on the grounds of a Buddhist monastery. Two monks fought against him as he tried to retrieve the pigeons, ignorant of his trespass. He was struck hard on the head, and Hunter hurried him into the care of
Dan Beach Bradley
Dan Beach Bradley (18 July 1804 – 23 June 1873) was an American Protestant missionary to Siam from 1835 until his death. He is credited with numerous firsts, including, bringing the first Thai-script printing press to Siam, publishing the first T ...
. He demanded the death penalty for the monks and threatened to call for military intervention by
his government if his demands were not met, causing a public stir and distressing the royal court. Rama III explained to Hunter that the monks had their own independent judicial system, and he referred the case to his half-brother in the priesthood –
Mongkut
Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...
, the future king – who issued a lighter verdict to the monks.
As trade increased through the 1830s, the king and nobles acquired their own vessels and began to deal with foreign merchants independently of Hunter. He decided to compensate for his falling profits by trading in
opium
Opium (or poppy tears, scientific name: ''Lachryma papaveris'') is dried latex obtained from the seed capsules of the opium poppy ''Papaver somniferum''. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid morphine, which i ...
– which was strictly forbidden in the kingdom at the time. But the king acted cautiously because Siam did not have the naval capability to disrupt opium shipments at sea. Goods laid in port, however, could be easily seized.
In 1839, Hunter & Hayes complained of suffering great losses over the unexpected monopolization of
teak
Teak (''Tectona grandis'') is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. ''Tectona grandis'' has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicl ...
and then even greater loss in 1842 when the king introduced a heavy levy on sugar and seized Hunter's stock to collect. Whereas he had once been partners with the king's court in trade, he had grown to be a rival.
''Express'' incident
The climax of the conflict between Hunter and Rama III was over the sale of a
steamship
A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...
.
Apprehensive of British intentions in the region after the outbreak of the
First Opium War
The First Opium War (), also known as the Opium War or the Anglo-Sino War was a series of military engagements fought between Britain and the Qing dynasty of China between 1839 and 1842. The immediate issue was the Chinese enforcement of the ...
, the king had ordered from Hunter & Hayes a large supply of weapons and a steamship to in the event of a possible war with Britain. The hostilities in China ended with the
Treaty of Nanking
The Treaty of Nanjing was the peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (1839–1842) between Great Britain and the Qing dynasty of China on 29 August 1842. It was the first of what the Chinese later termed the Unequal Treaties.
In the ...
in 1842, and the conflict ended up not involving Siam. Therefore, the king no longer wanted a steamship by the time ''Express'' arrived in Bangkok on 11 January 1844.
The sale of the ship was fraught with disagreement. It is unclear whether the king refused to pay the previously agreed price or if Hunter attempted to extort from him quadruple the value of the vessel, but tensions in the negotiations reached a boiling point when Hunter threatened to sell ''Express'' to Siam’s enemy, the
Vietnamese
Vietnamese may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia
** A citizen of Vietnam. See Demographics of Vietnam.
* Vietnamese people, or Kinh people, a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to Vietnam
** Overse ...
in nearby
Cochinchina
Cochinchina or Cochin-China (, ; vi, Đàng Trong (17th century - 18th century, Việt Nam (1802-1831), Đại Nam (1831-1862), Nam Kỳ (1862-1945); km, កូសាំងស៊ីន, Kosăngsin; french: Cochinchine; ) is a historical exony ...
. The king was outraged by the threat and ordered Hunter to leave Siam immediately. On 24 February, Hunter departed Bangkok on ''Express'', bound for Singapore.
Upon landing in Singapore, Hunter lodged a complaint with the
colonial governor. Unsatisfied with his response, Hunter steamed ''Express'' to Calcutta, the headquarters of the East India Company, to petition for redress of his grievances with the king. He claimed that Rama III had violated articles of the Burney Treaty of 1826, and he recommended the establishment of a British consul in Bangkok, appearance of gunships in the area and a renegotiation of the import duty. The
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 1 ...
took no action, however, agreeing with the judgments of his subordinates that any violations on the king's part owed to personal dispute with Hunter and were not instances of systematic breach. Hunter eventually made good on his threat and sold ''Express'' at a loss to the Vietnamese for a price of 53,000
Spanish dollars
The Spanish dollar, also known as the piece of eight ( es, Real de a ocho, , , or ), is a silver coin of approximately diameter worth eight Spanish reales. It was minted in the Spanish Empire following a monetary reform in 1497 with content ...
.
Christopher Harvey, an assistant of Hunter & Hayes, continued the business in Bangkok after Hunter’s departure in February. Hunter returned to Bangkok in July to collect his outstanding debts. The king permitted him to enter the country and remove his personal possessions, but he withheld logistical assistance. Hunter then dissolved his enterprise and departed Siam on 29 December 1844.
Death and legacy
Hunter returned to his native Scotland and died at his residence in
Lilybank
Lilybank is a neighbourhood in the east of Glasgow, Scotland. Neighbouring areas Newbank to the west, Braidfauld to the east and the eastern part of Parkhead to the north. The A74 London Road runs to the south, with the land on the opposite si ...
, Glasgow on 7 September 1848. His son, Robert Hunter, Jr., stayed in Siam after his father's departure and enjoyed more favor with the court. He died on 19 April 1865 and was buried in
Bangkok Protestant Cemetery
The Bangkok Protestant Cemetery is a cemetery catering mainly to the foreign community in Bangkok. To date, the cemetery has over 1800 interments (around 1100 names are legible on extant gravestones), and it is still accepting burials on a limited ...
.
Hunter was socially adaptable and persuasive, but his "shrewdness, arrogance and fire were more memorable than the streaks of kindness which undoubtedly existed." During the unsuccessful treaty mission of
James Brooke
Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak (29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868), was a British soldier and adventurer who founded the Raj of Sarawak in Borneo. He ruled as the first White Rajah of Sarawak from 1841 until his death in 1868.
Brooke was bor ...
in 1850, Rama III cited Hunter's fractious behavior as a reason for rejecting the terms for freer residence of Europeans. The king did not want more troublesome merchants like Hunter, and he distrusted Westerners for the rest of his reign.
[Terwiel, ''History of Modern Thailand'', p. 149] Siam's foreign relations did not change until the ascension of
Mongkut
Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...
, Rama IV, who signed the
Bowring Treaty
The Bowring Treaty was a treaty signed between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Siam on 18 April 1855. The treaty had the primary effect of liberalizing foreign trade in Siam, and was signed by five Siamese plenipotentiaries (among them Won ...
in 1855. This significantly liberalized trade between the British and Siam, notably allowing for the duty-free importation of opium.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, Robert
1792 births
1848 deaths
19th-century Scottish businesspeople
19th-century British diplomats
Expatriates in the Rattanakosin Kingdom
19th century in Siam
British expatriates in Thailand
Deaths in Scotland
Scottish merchants