Narong Wongwan was born in Phrae, where his grandfather had acquired a fortune from wood production. Narong studied economics in the
United States. After working for the family's saw mill for some time, he went into tobacco growing and curing in the 1950s. During the 1970s the tobacco business in Northern Thailand boomed and Narong became a multi-millionaire. Many peasants of Phrae and the neighbouring provinces were employed on Narong's and his family's plantations and in their curing plants. Therefore, he accumulated considerable economic and social influence in the region. This was used by him as a base for his political career. Narong was a member of Phrae's provincial council as early as 1949. He founded the
Solidarity Party (Ruamthai) and was elected member of parliament in 1979. He was steadily re-elected in all elections until 1992. He joined the government of prime minister
Prem Tinsulanonda, becoming deputy interior minister in 1980, deputy minister of agriculture in 1981, rising to be minister in 1983. After the election of 1986, his party was in the opposition. In 1989, he merged his party with three minor parties and renamed it
Solidarity Party. After a cabinet reshuffle, the party became part of
Chatichai Choonhavan's government coalition and Narong was again made minister of agriculture. He had to relinquish premiership and the parliament instead nominated the putschist General
Suchinda Kraprayoon. Really, Narong had not been prosecuted as there was not sufficient evidence. As the leader of the biggest coalition party, Narong still became deputy prime minister under Suchinda. After the bloody crackdown on the oppositional movement protesting against the military-backed government, the Justice Unity Party was discredited and dissolved. Narong instead joined the
Thai Nation Party. After the party's electoral success in 1995, Narong was poised to become minister of interior, but again he was hindered by allegations of criminal activity. Narong died at the age of 94 with a senile disease on the night of 10 September 2020 at 11:01 P.M. at
Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. == Honours ==