He was born as Plaek Khittasangkha in Nonthaburi province during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Growing up near Bangkok, he entered a society balancing royal tradition with rising military modernization.

He began formal officer training at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy as the Siamese army professionalized along European lines. The academy environment connected him to ambitious peers who later shaped Thai politics.

After completing training, he received a commission in the Royal Siamese Army artillery branch. Artillery specialization emphasized technical discipline and planning, skills he later leveraged in bureaucratic and political leadership roles.

He studied military science in France, encountering European nationalism, state symbolism, and modern command doctrines. The experience broadened his worldview and strengthened his belief in a centralized, disciplined nation-state.

While abroad and after returning, he connected with reformist officers and civilians later associated with the Khana Ratsadon (People's Party). These networks criticized absolute monarchy and prepared coordinated action for constitutional change.

He backed the military side of the 1932 revolution that ended absolute monarchy and introduced a constitutional order. The new regime elevated officers as political actors, creating opportunities for him to rise quickly through power struggles.

During the Boworadet Rebellion, he took a prominent role in operations defending the constitutional government against royalist forces. The conflict strengthened the military faction and enhanced his reputation as a loyal, decisive commander.

He advanced within the defense establishment and received the aristocratic title 'Luang Phibunsongkhram,' which became his political identity. His growing influence aligned with factions around Plaek's ally and rival leaders in Bangkok.

He became prime minister, building an authoritarian state that relied on the army, police, and propaganda. His government promoted discipline and loyalty while suppressing opponents, reshaping politics around strong executive control.

His administration officially changed the country’s name from Siam to Thailand, symbolizing a new national identity. Through cultural mandates, radio messaging, and public rituals, the state pushed unity and modernization under centralized direction.

He used regional turmoil to press territorial claims against French Indochina, leading to the Franco-Thai War. Japanese mediation helped secure gains, boosting his prestige and tying Thailand closer to Tokyo’s expanding influence.

After Japan’s December 1941 landings, his government quickly agreed to cooperation and transit rights, avoiding prolonged fighting. The decision placed Thailand within Japan’s wartime sphere and created deep controversy among Thai elites.

His administration signed an alliance with Japan and announced war against Britain and the United States. Diplomats and opposition figures resisted, and the underground Free Thai (Seri Thai) movement began building Allied contacts.

As Japan’s position weakened and domestic hardship intensified, he lost political support and was pushed out of the premiership. New leaders in Bangkok sought to distance Thailand from Japan and reduce international retaliation.

After the war, he faced political and legal pressure tied to wartime decisions, while factions competed over Thailand’s future. He cultivated military allies and networks to return to influence amid unstable coalition politics.

A military coup reshuffled Bangkok politics and reopened the path for his return, as officers sought a strong figure to stabilize the state. He reemerged as a central leader, benefiting from army patronage and factional bargaining.

He resumed the premiership and positioned Thailand as a staunch anti-communist ally, seeking security and aid. His government tightened internal controls while aligning foreign policy with U.S.-led containment strategies in Asia.

Following turbulence including the Manhattan Rebellion involving naval officers, he and allied army leaders reinforced military supremacy over rivals. The episode highlighted inter-service tensions and encouraged harsher security approaches in Bangkok.

Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat led a coup that ended his rule, citing corruption and instability while consolidating a new authoritarian order. He left Thailand and lived abroad, removed from direct power but still historically influential.

He died in exile after a long period outside Thailand’s political center, as Sarit-era governance reshaped the country’s institutions. His legacy remained contested, remembered for modernization drives as well as repression and wartime alignment.