Anthony Mamo Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency
Sir Anthony Mamo
Honorific-Suffix:KUOM OBE QC
Office1:1st President of Malta
Term Start1:13 December 1974
Term End1:27 December 1976
Primeminister1:Dom Mintoff
Predecessor1:Elizabeth II
as Queen of Malta
Successor1:Anton Buttigieg
Office2:2nd Governor General of Malta
Term Start2:22 June 1971
Term End2:13 December 1974
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Primeminister2:Dom Mintoff
Predecessor2:Maurice Dorman
Successor2:Position abolished (Himself as President of Malta)
Office3:Chief Justice of Malta
Term Start3:1957
Term End3:1971
Predecessor3:Luigi Camilleri
Successor3:John Cremona
Birth Date:9 January 1909
Birth Place:Birkirkara, Malta
Death Place:Mosta, Malta
Alma Mater:University of Malta
Party:Independent
Children:3

Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo, (9 January 1909  - 1 May 2008) was the first president of Malta and previously served as the last Governor-General of the State of Malta before the country became a republic. He was also the first Maltese citizen to be appointed Governor-General, and before independence, briefly served as acting Governor.

Biography

Mamo was born in the town of Birkirkara, the son of Joseph Mamo and Carla Brincat. He was educated at the University of Malta where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1931 and a law degree in 1934.

Sir Anthony had been in private practice as an advocate for just over a year when he made the Public Service his career. In October 1936, he was appointed member of the Commission which, under the chairmanship of Judge Harding, was entrusted with the task of preparing a revised edition of all the Laws of Malta. This task took six years to complete.[1] He was in private practice a year before joining the civil service. He served as Crown Counsel from 1942 and later became attorney general.[2]

In the meantime the Second World War broke out and, although the commission's work was carried on, Sir Anthony, like so many others, gave his services for refugee work and the welfare of those hit by war.

Mamo was never involved directly in politics. He was appointed as Chief Justice of Malta in 1957 where he served until 1971 when he was appointed as Governor-General, the first Maltese to hold that office, serving until 13 December 1974, when Malta was proclaimed a republic. He served as president from that date until he was succeeded by Anton Buttigieg on 27 December 1976. He was given knighthood in 1959.

Mamo was married to Lady Margaret (née Agius) from 1939 until her death in 2002. They had three children; Josephine (married to Victor E. Tortell), Monica (married to George Pisani) and John (married to Tessa née' Scicluna).

Mamo died on 1 May 2008 at the age of 99, at Casa Arkati in Mosta.[3] [2] An oncology center in Mater Dei Hospital was christened under his name as the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre[4]

Honours

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sir Anthony J. Mamo. 2021-09-17. www.gov.mt. 17 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917203234/https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/Government%20of%20Malta/Presidents%20of%20Malta/Pages/Sir-Anthony-J-Mamo.aspx. live.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20080506121031/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080501/local/sir-anthony-mamo-dies Sir Anthony Mamo: State funeral tomorrow
  3. https://www.timesofmalta.com/mobile/articles/view/20080502/local/maltas-first-president-dies-aged-99.206389 Malta's first President dies aged 99
  4. Web site: Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre. 2021-09-17. deputyprimeminister.gov.mt.