Arthur Chung (10 January 1918-23 June 2008) was President of Guyana from 17 March 1970 to 6 October 1980, preceding Forbes Burnham.
Biography[]
Arthur Chung was born in Windsor Forest, Demerara, British Guiana in 1918; he came from a family of Chinese descent. Chung worked as a surveyor and magistrate before being elected Guyana's inaugural president in 1970; he served as commander-in-chief of the Guyana Defense Force and inherited the ceremonial functions of the Governor-General, while Prime Minister Forbes Burnham served as head of government. In 1972, Guyana established formal diplomatic relations with China. Chung died in 2008. He was the first Chinese-descended individual to become president of a non-Asian country.