Phan Thanh Gian

Family

His grandfather, Phan Thanh Tap was a native of Haicheng (near modern-day Longhai, Fujian) in Zhangzhou prefecture of Fujian province before later ultimately migrating to Vietnam due to political sentiments against the ruling Qing government. Phan Thanh Tap migrated to Vietnam in the early 18th century, along with his family and relatives and settled in the village of Hoi Trung at Bình Định Province. Upon settling in Vietnam, he married a Vietnamese woman, Huynh Thi Ngoc, with whom his Phan's father, Thanh Ngạn was born from this union. Phan Thanh Ngạn began his career as a clerk to the Nguyễn court. In 1798, Phan Thanh Ngạn was appointed as the chief supplier for Lord Ánh's (Emperor Gia Long from 1802) navy and was sent on a diplomatic mission to Tourane, but was later shipwrecked at lost at sea.

He had three sons, Phan Hương, Phan Liêm (also known as Phan Thanh Liêm, or Phan Thanh Tòng), and Phan Tôn, of which the last two organised an armed rebellion against the French soldiers who had colonised Vĩnh Long and were later defeated. Phan Hương stayed in Vĩnh Long, lived hidden as a farmer. Phan Liêm and Phan Tôn escaped to Huế, then followed Nguyễn Tri Phương in Battle of Hanoi (1873). They were defeated and captured by the French force in this one-day battle. General Phương was heavily wounded but refused to be treated by French and began a hunger strike, dying shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, Phan Liêm and Phan Tôn were sent to France.

In popular culture Nowadays, Phan Thanh Giản is being venerated as a minor god in some localities in southern Vietnam.

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