List of colonial governors of Burma

Last updated

Governor of Burma
Flag of the Governor of Burma (1939-1948).svg
Standard of the Governor, 1939–1948
Harcourt Butler (cropped).jpg
Longest serving
Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler

28 October 1915–22 September 1917
21 December 1922–20 December 1927
Style His Excellency
Residence Government House, Rangoon
Appointer Monarch of the United Kingdom
Formation31 January 1862
First holder Arthur Purves Phayre
Final holderSir Hubert Rance
Abolished4 January 1948
Succession President of Myanmar
Burma (Upper {orange} and Lower {pink}), 1886. Burma indo china 1886.jpg
Burma (Upper {orange} and Lower {pink}), 1886.

The colonial governors of Burma were the colonial administrators responsible for the territory of British Burma, an area equivalent to modern-day Myanmar.

Contents

As a result of the Second Anglo-Burmese War, Burma was initially set up as a province of British India. Following the Government of India Act 1935 it was made a separate crown colony within the British Empire. Following invasion by the Empire of Japan during World War II, it was controlled by a Japanese military governor. After the Japanese were expelled, it was under a Allied military commander, then a civilian governor until independence.

List

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

   acting

No.PortraitName
(birth–death)
Term of office
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
British Burma
Chief commissioner
1 Arthur Purves Phayre.jpg Arthur Purves Phayre
(1812–1885)
31 January 186216 February 18675 years, 16 days
2 Albert Fytche.PNG Albert Fytche
(1820–1892)
16 February 186718 April 18714 years, 61 days
3 Sir Ashley Eden.png Ashley Eden
(1831–1887)
18 April 187114 April 18753 years, 361 days
4 Sir Augustus Rivers Thompson.png Augustus Rivers Thompson
(1829–1890)
14 April 187530 April 18772 years, 16 days
30 April 187730 March 1878334 days
5 Aitchison CharlesU (1832-96).jpeg Charles Umpherston Aitchison
(1832–1896)
30 March 18782 July 18802 years, 94 days
6 Sir Charles Bernard.jpg Charles Bernard
(1837–1901)
2 July 18804 April 18821 year, 276 days
4 April 18822 March 1883332 days
7Sir Charles Crosthwaite
(1835–1915)
2 March 188328 February 1884363 days
28 February 188425 September 18862 years, 209 days
(6) Sir Charles Bernard.jpg Charles Bernard
(1837–1901)
25 September 188612 March 1887168 days
(7)Sir Charles Crosthwaite
(1835–1915)
12 March 188710 December 18903 years, 273 days
8 Alexander Mackenzie Bengal (cropped).jpg Alexander Mackenzie
(1842–1902)
10 December 18903 April 18954 years, 114 days
9 Frederick William Richards Fryer
(1845–1922)
3 April 18951 May 18972 years, 28 days
Lieutenant governor
1Frederick William Richards Fryer
(1845–1922)
1 May 18974 April 19035 years, 338 days
2Sir Hugh Shakespear Barnes
(1853–1940)
4 April 19039 May 19052 years, 35 days
3 Herbert Thirkell White (cropped).jpg Sir Herbert Thirkell White
(1855–1931)
9 May 190519 May 19105 years, 10 days
4Sir Harvey Adamson
(1854–1941)
19 May 191028 October 19155 years, 162 days
Sir George Shaw
(1858–1931)
Acting
15 May 19131 November 1913170 days
5 Harcourt Butler (cropped).jpg Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler
(1869–1938)
28 October 191522 September 19171 year, 329 days
Walter Francis Rice
(1871–1941)
Acting
22 September 191715 February 1918146 days
6 Reginald Craddock.jpg Sir Reginald Craddock
(1864–1937)
15 February 191821 December 19224 years, 309 days
5 Harcourt Butler (cropped).jpg Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler
(1869–1938)
21 December 19222 January 192312 days
Governor
1 Harcourt Butler (cropped).jpg Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler
(1869–1938)
2 January 192320 December 19274 years, 352 days
2 Charles Alexander Innes.jpg Sir Charles Alexander Innes
(1874–1959)
20 December 192720 December 19325 years
3Sir Hugh Landsdowne Stephenson
(1871–1941)
20 December 19328 May 19363 years, 140 days
4Sir Archibald Douglas Cochrane
(1885–1958)
8 May 19366 May 19414 years, 363 days
5 Reginald Dorman Smit.jpg Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith
(1899–1977)
6 May 194131 August 19465 years, 117 days
Japanese Occupation of British Burma
Military commander
1 Iida Shojiro Fourier blur copy background.png Lieutenant general
Shōjirō Iida
(1888–1980)
20 April 194218 March 1943332 days
2 Masakazu Kawabe.jpg General
Masakazu Kawabe
(1886–1965)
18 March 194330 August 1944165 days
3 Kimura Heitaro.jpg General
Heitarō Kimura
(1888–1948)
30 August 194415 August 19451 year, 350 days
Allied military administration
Military governor
1 Lord Mountbatten 4 Allan Warren.jpg Actg. Admiral
Lord Louis Mountbatten
(1900–1979)
1 January 1944October 19451 year, 9 months
2 Hubert Elvin Rance (cropped).jpg Major general
Sir Hubert Rance
(1898–1974)
October 194531 August 194610 months
British Burma
Governor
1 Hubert Elvin Rance (cropped).jpg Sir Hubert Rance
(1898–1974)
31 August 19464 January 19481 year, 126 days

See also

References