Thant, U, << thahnt, oo >> (1909-1974), a Burmese diplomat, served as secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) from 1962 to 1971. He had become acting secretary-general in 1961, filling the term of the late Dag Hammarskjöld. U Thant had only one name, as do many people from Myanmar (also called Burma). U, a title of respect, has a meaning similar to Mister. U Thant was born on Jan. 22, 1909, in Pantanaw, Burma. He attended University College in Yangon (also spelled Rangoon). From 1928 to 1947, he taught school and was a journalist. He strongly opposed colonialism. He became Burma’s press director in 1947 and director of broadcasting in 1948. In 1957, U Thant became chairman of the Burmese UN delegation. He died on Nov. 24, 1974.
