Sir Maung Khin KCIE ( my, မောင်ခင် ; also spelled Maung Kin, U Khin and U Kin; 1872 – 22 September 1924) was the first Burmese judge of the Chief Court of Lower Burma 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 (Yangon) 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 The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn ...

in 1898, he returned to Yangon and worked as a barrister. In 1921, Maung Khin became first Burmese judge of the Chief Court of Lower Burma. In 1923, he was appointed Internal Minister and made a

Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes: #Knight Grand Commander (GCIE) #Knight Commander ( KCIE) #Companion ( CIE) No appoi ...

, and became the first Burmese man to receive the 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.

References

Members of the Middle Temple University of Yangon alumni Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire 1872 births 1924 deaths British Burma judges Burmese knights {{Myanmar-bio-stub