Famous Burmese Leaders

Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese politician and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is credited with co-founding the National League for Democracy, which eventually ended the rule of Myanmar's military junta. In 1999, she was named one of the Children of Gandhi by Time magazine for enduring almost 15 years of house arrest for the greater good of Myanmar.

Former Burmese president Htin Kyaw had an elite education, which took him to London, Tokyo, and Massachusetts. A close aide of Aung San Suu Kyi, Kyaw became the president in 2016 following the end of Myanmar’s military leadership, as Suu Kyi was barred from holding the post.

U Nu was a Burmese nationalist politician and statesman. He is best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Burma on three occasions between 1948 and 1962. U Nu is also remembered for his literary works; he wrote several plays and novels during his lifetime.

Khun Sa was an ethnic Chinese drug lord who was involved in massive opium smuggling operations. Nicknamed the Opium King, Khun Sa was the dominant opium warlord in the Golden Triangle from 1976 to 1996. He was played by Ric Young in the 2007 American biographical crime film American Gangster. 

Thein Sein is a Burmese politician who served as the prime minister of Myanmar from 2007 to 2011. From 2011 to 2016, Sein served as Myanmar's president. Widely regarded as a reformist leader, Sein's government took up a series of political reforms, such as halting the construction of the Myitsone Dam and releasing many political prisoners.

Than Shwe is a Burmese politician best known for his service as the head of state of Myanmar between 1992 and 2011. During this period, Than Shwe held important positions of power including Supreme Commander of Myanmar Defense Services and Prime Minister of Myanmar.

Khin Kyi was a Burmese diplomat and politician. She is best remembered for her marriage to Aung San, a prominent politician, revolutionary, and independence activist. Khin Kyi is also remembered for her service as the Minister of Social Welfare from 1953 to 1960. She also served as the Burmese Ambassador to India from 1960 to 1967.

Ba Maw was a Burmese political leader and lawyer. He achieved prominence as a lawyer in 1931, when he defended Saya San. He then focused on his political career and went on to serve as the Head of State of Burma from 1 August 1943 to 27 March 1945.

Saw Maung was a Burmese statesman and army general. He is best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Burma from 21 September 1988 to 23 April 1992. He also served as the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services from 1985 to 1992. In 1990, Saw Maung became the first person to receive the rank of Senior General in Myanmar.

Maung Maung was a Burmese politician, lawyer, writer, and historian. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Burma from 19 August 1988 to 17 September 1990. Maung Maung also worked as a lecturer in Rangoon University and contributed to the Burma Khit Newspaper as an editor.

Sein Lwin was a Burmese politician who served as the President of Burma from 27 July to 12 August 1988. Sein Lwin, who also served as the military general in the Burmese Army, earned the nickname Butcher of Rangoon for brutally suppressing student-led protests in Rangoon. The students were massacred for protesting against the military regime of General Ne Win.

Maha Bandula was a military leader best remembered for his association with the Royal Burmese Armed Forces, where he served as the  commander-in-chief from 1821 until his demise in 1825. He played an important role in the First Anglo-Burmese War. Maha Bandula is widely regarded as a national hero for his resistance against the British.

U Saw was a Burmese politician best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of British Burma from 1940 to 1942. He is also remembered for playing a key role in the murder of Burma's revolutionary freedom fighter, Aung San. When Burma gained independence in January 1948, U Saw was executed by hanging for his role in the assassination.

San Yu was a Burmese statesman and army general. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Burma from 1981 to 1988. As one of the founding members of Ne Win's Union Revolutionary Council, San Yu played an important role in the military coup that overthrew the government of U Nu in 1962.

U Ottama was a Theravada Buddhist author and monk. He is best remembered for leading the independence movement in Burma during British colonial rule. U Ottama kept fighting for the freedom of his country despite being imprisoned on a number of occasions for his anti-colonialist political activities.

Soe Win was a Burmese political leader best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Myanmar from 19 October 2004 to 12 October 2007. He is also remembered for playing an important role in the 2003 Depayin Massacre, where 70 National League for Democracy supporters were murdered by a government-sponsored mob.

Thakin Than Tun was a Burmese politician best remembered for his service as the Minister of Land and Agriculture from 1942 to 1943. An influential politician, he led the Communist Party of Burma from 1945 until his death in 1968. Thakin Than Tun started his career as a school teacher and played an important role in Burma's struggle for independence.

Shwe Mann is a Burmese politician who served as the Speaker of the Assembly of the Union from 1 July 2013 to 29 January 2016. A former general, Shwe Mann was regarded as the third-most powerful person in Myanmar when the country was under the influence of strongman politician, Than Shwe.

Su Su Lwin is a Burmese politician best known for her role as the First Lady of Myanmar from 2016 to 2018. She is currently serving as a member of the House of Representatives. Prior to her political career, Su Su Lwin worked as an educator and is credited with founding a non-profit organization named Hantha Educators in 2006.

Kyaing Kyaing is a Burmese socialite best known for her role as the First Lady of Myanmar from 1992 to 2011, during which her husband Than Shwe served as the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council.

Win Tin was a Burmese politician, journalist, and political prisoner. He is best remembered for co-founding a liberal democratic political party called the National League for Democracy. His writings and activities in the National League for Democracy led to his imprisonment by the government for 19 years.