event_note History Timeline
1870 - 1946
Dr San C. Po, the leading Karen political leader of his time
Dr San C. Po, the leading Karen political leader of his time was born near Bassein (Pathein) on 4 October 1870. He travelled to the US at the age of 14, eventually studying medicine at Albany. He becamethe first "Burmese-American" but later returned to Burma and later renounced his US citizenship to enter Burmese politics. He was a medical doctor and writer, as well as a politician and Karen nationalist, serving for many years in the Legislative Council. In 1933, he was knighted. His daughter, Mrs. Ba Maung Chain, was for many years a minister in the U Nu government.
In this photograph of Dr San C. Po is seated centre with other Karen Members of the Legislative Council in the 1920s.