Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was born in Kitty, British Guiana on the 20^th of February, 1923. He was the son of Methodist parents, James Ethelbert Burnham and Rachel Abigail Sampson. Burnham had two marriages in his life, which produced five daughters. The first was to Sheila Bernice Lataste, in 1951. Roxane, Annabelle, and Francesca were the fruits of that union. The second, in 1967, was to Viola Victorine Harper who bore him Melanie and Ulele.

Burnham played a major role in establishing both major political parties in Guyana. In 1950, he and Dr. Cheddi Jagan co-founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Five years later, he split from the PPP to form a more "moderate" party called the People’s National Congress (PNC). He was the Prime Minister of Guyana from 1964 until he became President in 1980. He held the office of the presidency until his death in 1985.

Until 1970, the country was ruled in moderation, looking to foreign investors and staying away from socialism. However, from 1970, his government declared the country a "Cooperative Republic", established relations with communist countries, and nationalized foreign owned bauxite mines and sugar plantations. These policies eventually led to Guyana’s economic stagnation in the 80’s.

Burnham, the first president of Guyana, led his country for twenty-one years. He died on August 6, 1985, at the age of 62. He was undergoing a throat operation in a hospital in Georgetown. He was a major player in Guyana's political arena.