Maung Khin


Sir Maung Khin was the first Burmese Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature during the British colonial era, and the first Burmese to be knighted. Maung Khin was known as a good, clean administrator, widely respected by the public.

Personal history

Maung Khin was born to Kya Hnaing and Po Kyaw in Rangoon in 1872, twenty years after the British had captured Lower Burma. Maung Khin studied at Rangoon's elite St. Paul's English High School and Rangoon College, and proceeded to read law in the United Kingdom. After passing the law exam at Middle Temple in 1898, he returned to Yangon and worked as a barrister. In 1921, Maung Khin became first Burmese Chief Justice of the High Court. In 1923, he was appointed Internal Minister and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire, and became the first Burmese man to receive that title "Sir".
Sir Maung's hobbies were horse riding and gardening. He died on 22 September 1924. He was survived by his wife and their son Myo Kin and daughter Kin Kin E.