Fact Check: "The longest serving king of Thailand was born in America"
What We Know
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX, was born on December 5, 1927, at Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, making him the only Thai monarch to have been born on American soil (source-1, source-4). He served as the King of Thailand from 1946 until his death in 2016, marking a reign of 70 years and 126 days, the longest of any Thai monarch and the longest of any independent Asian sovereign (source-3, source-5).
Analysis
The claim that King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in America is supported by multiple credible sources. The U.S. Embassy in Thailand highlights his birth in Massachusetts as a significant fact, emphasizing the enduring friendship between the U.S. and Thailand (source-2). Furthermore, a detailed biography on Wikipedia confirms his birthplace and provides context about his early life, including his family's background and subsequent move to Thailand when he was just a year old (source-3).
The reliability of these sources is high. The U.S. Embassy is an official government entity, and Wikipedia, while user-edited, is generally well-cited and maintained, particularly for historical figures. Additionally, reputable news outlets such as the BBC and USA Today have reported on his birth and reign, further corroborating the claim (source-4, source-7).
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The claim that the longest-serving king of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was born in America is accurate. He was indeed born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is well-documented by multiple reliable sources.
Sources
- About this Collection | Royal Cremation Ceremony for H.M. ...
- King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the U.S. - An Enduring ...
- Bhumibol Adulyadej
- Obituary: King Bhumibol of Thailand
- Bhumibol Adulyadej | Facts, Biography, & Reign
- The path of the Thai royal family in Massachusetts
- Thai king, world's longest-reigning monarch, dies after 70 ...
- Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest ...
