Thein Sein
A former Burmese general who, as president, unexpectedly steered Myanmar's junta toward a fragile and contested period of political opening.
Born 1945 (age 81)·President of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016·Birthday: April 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Thein Sein's presidency was defined by a paradox that captivated and confused the world. A career soldier who rose to become Prime Minister under the repressive State Peace and Development Council, he was handpicked by the junta to lead a civilianized government after the 2010 elections. To widespread surprise, he embarked on a series of reforms that felt revolutionary in the context of Myanmar's isolated past. His administration freed hundreds of political prisoners, eased media censorship, allowed Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy to re-enter politics, and oversaw a historic influx of foreign investment and engagement. This 'disciplined democracy' period raised immense hopes. Yet, his tenure was also marked by the unresolved persecution of the Rohingya minority and the military's retained constitutional power. Viewed as a cautious reformer by some and a system-loyal tactician by others, Thein Sein's legacy is that of the man who opened the door to Myanmar's transformation, a process that would later prove unstable and violently reversible.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Thein was born in 1945, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Thein Was Born
The biggest hits of 1945
#1 Movie
The Bells of St. Mary's
Best Picture
The Lost Weekend
Thein's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1945Born
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1950Started school
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1958Became a teenager
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Could drive
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1963Could vote
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Turned 21
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1975Turned 30
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 40
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 50
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 60
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 70
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 80
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 81 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the eighth President of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016, leading the first nominally civilian government in decades.
- Oversaw the release of prominent political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi and the legal reinstatement of her political party.
- Initiated the easing of strict media censorship laws and freed hundreds of political prisoners during his term.
Did You Know?
He underwent major heart surgery in Singapore in 2013, during his presidency.
Before his political career, he was a military commander in the restive Karen State.
He is known for a reserved, soft-spoken public demeanor, contrasting with the typical image of a junta general.
“Our nation is on the path of democratic transition and reform.”
