U Pe Maung Tin was first national professor of Pali language at the University of Yangon. An Anglican he was the fifth child of U Pe and Daw Myaing. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rangoon in 1909 and a master of arts degree from the University of Calcutta in 1911. He was the youngest professor in Burma in 1912. U Pe Maung Tin was called a "M.A. Maung Tin" or "Pali Maung Tin" because of his knowledge of Buddhism. He obtain his D.Lit. degree from Oxford University and proceeded to Paris for further studies. He was close friends with professors J.S. Furnival and Gordon H. Luce.
He was also professor of Oriental studies and was honored by the Pali Text Society for his translation of the Visuddhimagga, an encyclopedia of the dhamma written by Buddhaghosa, into English. He became principal of university in 1936.
U Pe Maung Tin was a prodigious writer, and his works, such as a Burmese grammar, selections of Burmese prose, a history of Burmese literature, and the Visuddhi Magga, are still used as references. Pe Maung Tin with Gordon Luce also translated the Glass Palace Chronicle.
Many did not realize that he was a Christian and thought he was a former Buddhist monk because of his knowledge of Buddhism. He was a leader of the Christian Literature Society of the Burma Council of Churches.
Ma Lay Lon wrote a book "Pe Maung Tin or Father Longlife, Vols 1 and Vols 2"