| History of Burma |
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This is a list of colonial heads of Burma.
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Term | Incumbent | Notes |
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| British Burma | ||
| Arakan, Tenasserim, and Pegu are united as British ("Lower") Burma, within British India | ||
| 31 January 1862 to 16 February 1867 | Arthur Purves Phayre, Chief Commissioner | |
| 16 February 1867 to 18 April 1871 | Albert Fytche, Chief Commissioner | |
| 18 April 1871 to 14 April 1875 | Ashley Eden, Chief Commissioner | |
| 14 April 1875 to 30 March 1878 | Augustus Rivers Thompson, Chief Commissioner | Acting until 30 April 1877 |
| 30 March 1878 to 2 July 1880 | Charles Umpherston Aitchinson, Chief Commissioner | |
| 2 July 1880 to 2 March 1883 | Charles Edward Bernard, Chief Commissioner | Acting until 4 April 1882, 1st time |
| 2 March 1883 to 1 January 1886 | Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite, acting Chief Commissioner | 1st time |
| Remnant of Kingdom of Awa ("Upper Burma") annexed to British India | ||
| 1 January 1886 to 26 February 1886 | Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite, acting Chief Commissioner | 1st time |
| Upper and Lower Burma united as Burma, within British India | ||
| 26 February 1886 to 25 September 1886 | Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite, acting Chief Commissioner | 1st time |
| 25 September 1886 to 12 March 1887 | Charles Edward Bernard, Chief Commissioner | 2nd time |
| 12 March 1887 to 10 December 1890 | Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite, Chief Commissioner | 2nd time |
| 10 December 1890 to 3 April 1895 | Alexander Mackenzie, Chief Commissioner | |
| 3 April 1895 to 1 May 1897 | Frederick William Richard Fryer, Chief Commissioner | |
| 1 May 1897 to 4 April 1903 | Frederick William Richard Fryer, Lieutenant Governor | |
| 4 April 1903 to 9 May 1905 | Sir Hugh Shakespaer Barnes, Lieutenant Governor | |
| 9 May 1905 to 19 May 1910 | Sir Herbert Thirkell White, Lieutenant Governor | |
| 19 May 1910 to 28 October 1915 | Sir Harvey Adamson, Lieutenant Governor | |
| 15 May 1913 to 1 November 1913 | Sir George Shaw, acting Lieutenant Governor | Acting for Adamson |
| 28 October 1915 to 22 September 1917 | Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler, Lieutenant Governor | 1st time |
| 22 September 1917 to 15 February 1918 | Walter Francis Rice, acting Lieutenant Governor | |
| 15 February 1918 to 21 December 1922 | Sir Reginald Henry Craddock, Lieutenant Governor | |
| 21 December 1922 to 2 January 1923 | Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler, Lieutenant Governor | 2nd time |
| 2 January 1923 to 20 December 1927 | Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler, Governor | 2nd time |
| 20 December 1927 to 20 December 1932 | Sir Charles Alexander Innes, Governor | |
| 20 December 1932 to 8 May 1936 | Sir Hugh Landsdowne Stephenson, Governor | |
| 8 May 1936 to 1 April 1937 | Sir Archibald Douglas Cochrane, Governor | |
| Burma a separate British colony | ||
| 1 April 1937 to 6 May 1941 | Sir Archibald Douglas Cochrane, Governor | |
| 6 May 1941 to 31 August 1946 | Sir Reginald Hugh Dorman-Smith, Governor | From May 1942 until October 1945 in exile at Simla, British India |
| Japanese Occupation of British Burma | ||
| 20 April 1942 to 18 March 1943 | Shōjirō Iida, Military Commander | |
| 18 March 1943 to 30 August 1944 | Masakazu Kawabe, Military Commander | |
| 30 August 1944 to 15 August 1945 | Heitarō Kimura, Military Commander | |
| Allied Military Administration | ||
| 1 January 1944 to October 1945 | Actg. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Military Governor | |
| October 1945 to 31 August 1946 | Sir Hubert Elvin Rance, Military Governor | |
| British Burma | ||
| 31 August 1946 to 4 January 1948 | Sir Hubert Elvin Rance, Governor | |
| 4 January 1948 | Independence as Union of Burma | |
For continuation after independence, see: President of Burma