Poom Jensen

Khun Poom Jensen^{[Note 1]} (Thai: พุ่ม เจนเซน; RTGS: Phum; Thai pronunciation: [pʰǔm]; 16 August 1983 – 26 December 2004), born Bhumi Jensen (also spelled Poomi Jensen,^[1][2][3] Thai: ภูมิ เจนเซน; RTGS: Phumi; Thai pronunciation: [pʰuːmí]), was a grandson of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, after whom he was named. He was also a nephew of Vajiralongkorn, the current King of Thailand. He was the only son of the King's eldest daughter, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, and her American (former) husband Peter Ladd Jensen.^[4]

Khun Poom Jensen
Born	Bhumi Jensen (1983-08-16)16 August 1983 San Diego, California, U.S.
Died	26 December 2004(2004-12-26) (aged 21) Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Thailand
Parents	Peter Ladd Jensen (father) Princess Ubol Ratana (mother)
Signature

Biography

Poom, as he was commonly known, had autism and his status helped heighten awareness of the condition in Thailand. He attended Kasetsart University Laboratory School in Bangkok. He spent his childhood in San Diego County, California, where he graduated from Torrey Pines High School.^[3] Poom moved with his mother to Thailand in July 2001, after his graduation.^[5]

Death and legacy

Jensen drowned after being struck by the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004, while he and his family were on holiday at the La Flora Resort hotel in Khao Lak.^[6] His body was discovered on the beach the following day. His uncle, then-Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, identified his body and flew the rest of the family to Bangkok.^[7] On 30 April 2005, he received a royal funeral attended by his grandfather the King and virtually every member of the Royal Family.

His mother, Princess Ubolratana, established the Khun Poom Foundation in his memory, to aid children with autism and other learning disabilities. She also founded "To Be Number One Project" to campaign against drug usage among teenagers.^[8]

Honors

•   King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class).

Police rank

• Police Sub Lieutenant^[9][10]

Volunteer Defense Corps of Thailand rank

• Volunteer Defense Corps Major^[11]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Poom Jensen

8. Peter Frederick Nicholas Jensen 4. George David Jensen 9. Mary Jacobine Becker 2. Peter Ladd Jensen 10. William Whitehead Ladd 5. Margaret Ann Ladd 11. Helen Meeks 1. Poom Jensen 12. Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla 6. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX of Thailand 13. Sangwan Talapat 3. Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya 14. Prince Nakkhatra Mangala, Prince of Chanthaburi II 7. Sirikit Kitiyakara 15. Bua Snidvongs

Notes

1. Khun is a Thai courtesy title which is used to show respect but does not indicate a royal status.

References

1. "IN RE MARRIAGE OF JENSEN". Leagle. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
2. "IN RE: the MARRIAGE of Julie and Peter JENSEN". FindLaw. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
3. Karen Kucher (30 December 2004). . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
4. "Royal Family of Thailand". www.worldwhoswho.com. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
5. Case Law
6. Liu, Caitlin; Tony Perry (29 December 2004). "Thais Saddened by the Death of Young Prince". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
7. . Soravij.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
8. His Majesty the King of Thailand has inspired Members of his own Family to be actively involved in development projects. 20 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
9. "รายงานพิเศษ : "คุณพุ่ม" ที่รักของแม่และคนไทยทุกคน!". April 2005.
10. "16 สิงหา ร่วมระลึกถึง "คุณพุ่ม เจนเซน" พระโอรสคนเดียวในทูลกระหม่อมหญิงอุบลรัตนราชกัญญาในวันคล้ายวันเกิด". 16 August 2017.
11. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2548/00169756.PDF^{[bare URL PDF]}