Jim Thompson's dream was to be an architect, but despite extensive study of architecture at the University of Pennsylvania his dream of becoming a fully qualified architect were thwarted as he failed to pass his qualifying exams on three separate occasions. Disheartened, Thompson enrolled in the Delaware National Guard, and at the end of the second world war was subsequently posted to Thailand. This would turn out to be a life changing event.
Thompson fell in love with Bangkok, and after he was discharged from the National Guard he searched for an occupation that would enable him to stay and live permanently in his beloved city. At the time Thailand's silk industry was struggling, and Thompson saw this as an unmissable business opportunity. Within ten years he had built up a reputation as a purveyor of fine quality silk and had almost single handedly revived the country's silk industry. He had also become a very wealthy man, and in 1959 he turned his sights once more to architecture to build what is now one of Bangkok's top tourist attractions - the Jim Thompson house. …show more content…
One evening he went out exploring alone in the jungle and simply disappeared. Despite a massive manhunt involving over 300 soldiers and police using tracker dogs and local aboriginal tribesmen he was never found. When he was officially declared dead his home and its contents were passed into the care of the Siam Society, who turned it into a
Thompson fell in love with Bangkok, and after he was discharged from the National Guard he searched for an occupation that would enable him to stay and live permanently in his beloved city. At the time Thailand's silk industry was struggling, and Thompson saw this as an unmissable business opportunity. Within ten years he had built up a reputation as a purveyor of fine quality silk and had almost single handedly revived the country's silk industry. He had also become a very wealthy man, and in 1959 he turned his sights once more to architecture to build what is now one of Bangkok's top tourist attractions - the Jim Thompson house. …show more content…
One evening he went out exploring alone in the jungle and simply disappeared. Despite a massive manhunt involving over 300 soldiers and police using tracker dogs and local aboriginal tribesmen he was never found. When he was officially declared dead his home and its contents were passed into the care of the Siam Society, who turned it into a