Pramarn Adireksarn succumbed to a blood infection at the age of 96, leaving behind a rich political legacy spanning almost six decades, including the tumultuous period when he was the founder and leader of Chart Thai Party between 1974 and 1986.
Despite his age, he appeared in good health when his family organised a grand celebration to mark his 96th birthday in January. He even told his guests he was looking forward to meeting them again in four years for his centenary party.
He was admitted to Vichaiyut Hospital more than a week ago before developing complications from kidney failure and the respiratory system.
Born into a rural family in 1913 in Saraburi, he rose to become artillery officer, serving in his hometown following his graduation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.
He was one of the youngest officers ever to be elevated to the rank of major-general before leaving the military service to serve as head of the now defunct Express Transport Organisation, a state enterprise for inter-provincial cargo delivery.
Besides distinguishing himself career-wise, he also fell in love and married Thanpuying Charoen Choonhavan from the powerful family, known as the Ratchakru clan named after the road where the family compound is located.
From 1951 to 1957, he quickly moved from the state enterprise to enter politics via the family connections of his father-in-law Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan.
He joined the Plaek Pibulsonggram government as deputy minister for interior and later for industry.
He was a member of the then ruling party, known as Seri Manangkasila.
The 1957 coup, led by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, curtailed the political involvement of Pramarn and the Ratchakru clan.
During the hiatus from political activities, he devoted time to build up a textile conglomerate.
Towards the end of the Thanom Kittikachorn government, an olive branch was extended to the Ratchakru clan and Pramarn re-entered the political scene.
Along with veteran politician Siri Siriyothin and Phin's son General Chatchai Choonhavan, he was one of the three founders of the Chart Thai Party in 1974. Subsequently he became the first leader of the party, which was the springboard for the Ratchakru clan to resume their political activities.
The advent of Chart Thai coincided with one of the turbulent periods in Thai political history. The party became known to represent the right-wing and the voice of the conservative, opposing the student movement.
As Chart Thai leader, Pramarn led his first electoral campaign in 1975. As the third largest party following the election, he joined the Kukrit Pramoj government in the concurrent positions of deputy prime minister and defence minister.
The collapse of the Kukrit government did not spell doom for Chart Thai. Pramarn became the first to take up the position of opposition leader in 1978 before moving on to join the coalition bandwagon under General Prem Tinsulanonda in 1980.
In the 1986 general election, he revealed his ambition and readiness to become prime minister, and fell out of favour with Prem.
To keep Chart Thai in the coalition alliance, he was forced to resign his party leadership, handing it over to Chatchai, though he remained a key figure in the political landscape.
When he served as the interior minister in 1988 under the Chatchai Choonhavan government, he received the royal command to be elevated to the honorary rank of police general.
Following the 1991 coup led by General Suchinda Kraprayoon, the Ratchakru clan was once again exiled from politics.
Due to his age and waning prospects, Pramarn began to fade out of the scene, living in semi-retirement though continuing to make forays into politics on a number of occasions during the Thaksin Shinawatra government. He could not quite manage a comeback and decided to pass on his political mantle to his son Pongpol.