10 Facts About Arthur Chung

Arthur Raymond Chung was a Guyanese politician who served as the first President of Guyana from 17 March 1970 to 6 October 1980.

Arthur Chung was the first ethnically Chinese person to be elected as head of state in a non-Asian country.

Arthur Chung was born into a Chinese Guyanese family at Windsor Forest village at West Coast Demerara in British Guiana; he was the youngest of Joseph and Lucy Arthur Chung's eight children.

Arthur Chung was educated at Windsor Forest, Blankenburg, and Modern High School.

Arthur Chung returned to Guyana and was later appointed an acting magistrate.

Arthur Chung became a magistrate in 1954 and a senior magistrate in 1960.

Arthur Chung served as Registrar of Deeds and of the Supreme Court.

Arthur Chung then became a puisne judge and finally an Appeal Court Judge in 1963.

When Guyana became a republic under the leadership of Forbes Burnham in 1970, the Guyanese National Assembly elected Arthur Chung President, making him the first President of Guyana; he took office on 17 March 1970.

Arthur Chung died aged 90 on 23 June 2008 at his home at Bel Air Springs, Georgetown.