| Post: | Governor |
| Body: | Malta |
| Insignia: | Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1952-2022).svg |
| Insigniasize: | 100px |
| Insigniacaption: | Coat of arms of the governor of Malta |
| Style: | His Excellency |
| Residence: | Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta |
| Appointer: | King/Queen of the United Kingdom |
| Precursor: | Civil Commissioner of Malta |
| Formation: | 5 October 1813 |
| First: | Sir Thomas Maitland |
| Last: | Sir Maurice Dorman |
| Abolished: | 21 September 1964 |
| Succession: | Governor-General of Malta |
The governor of Malta (Maltese: Gvernatur ta' Malta) was an official who ruled Malta during the British colonial period between 1813 and 1964. This office replaced that of the civil commissioner. Upon the end of British rule and the creation of the State of Malta in 1964, this office was replaced by the governor-general, who represented the British monarch and not the government of the United Kingdom as did the governor. The office of Governor-General was itself abolished in 1974 and replaced by the post of president when Malta became a republic.
The governor, appointed by the British monarch (on the advice of the prime minister), maintained executive power in Malta throughout British rule. He was head of the executive council and the pre-independence government of Malta.
The governor was the most powerful official in Malta.
The governor was initially supported by a lieutenant-governor. For example, from ca. 1813 to ca. 1820, Major-General Sir William Hutchinson served as lieutenant governor.[1] After the death of the Marquess of Hastings in 1826, the British government decided to downgrade the post of Governor to Lieutenant-Governor, with a reduced allowance. Sir Frederick Ponsonby was formally designated Lieutenant-Governor and Commander of the Malta Garrison.[2]
| Name | Portrait | Term of office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sir Thomas Maitland | 5 October 1813[3] | 17 January 1824 | ||
The 1st Marquess of Hastings | 22 March 1824 | 28 November 1826 | ||
Alexander George Woodford | 28 November 1826 | 15 February 1827 | ||
Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby | 15 February 1827 | May 1835 | ||
| George Cardew | May 1835 | 4 July 1836 | ||
Sir Thomas Evans | 4 July 1836 | 30 September 1836 | ||
Sir Henry Bouverie | 1 October 1836 | 1843 | ||
Sir Patrick Stuart | 1843 | October 1847 | ||
| Richard More O'Ferrall | October 1847 | 13 May 1851 | ||
Robert Ellice | 13 May 1851 | 27 October 1851 | ||
Sir William Reid | 27 October 1851 | 1858 | ||
Sir John Le Marchant | 1858 | 15 November 1864 | ||
Sir Henry Knight Storks | 15 November 1864 | 15 May 1867 | ||
Sir Patrick Grant | 15 May 1867 | 3 June 1872 | ||
Sir Charles van Straubenzee | 3 June 1872 | 13 May 1878 | ||
Sir Arthur Borton | 10 June 1878 | April 1884 | ||
Sir Lintorn Simmons | April 1884 | 28 September 1888 | ||
Sir Henry Torrens | 28 September 1888 | 1 December 1889 | ||
Sir Henry Augustus Smyth | 1890 | 1893 | ||
Sir Arthur Lyon Fremantle | 1893 | 6 January 1899 | ||
Sir Francis Grenfell (The 1st Baron Grenfell) | 6 January 1899 | 1903 | ||
Sir Charles Clarke, | 1903 | 1907 | ||
Sir Henry Grant | 1907 | 1909 | ||
Sir Leslie Rundle | 1909 | February 1915 | ||
The 3rd Baron Methuen | February 1915 | May 1919 | ||
The 1st Baron Plumer | 1919 | 1924 | ||
Sir Walter Congreve | 29 June 1924 | 28 February 1927 | ||
Sir John Philip Du Cane | 28 February 1927 | 1931 | ||
Sir David Campbell | June 1931 | 12 March 1936 | ||
Sir Charles Bonham-Carter | 12 March 1936 | 1940 | ||
Sir William Dobbie | April 1940 | May 1942 | ||
The 6th Viscount Gort | May 1942 | 26 September 1944 | ||
Sir Edmond Schreiber | 26 September 1944 | 10 July 1946 | ||
| Sir Francis Douglas | 10 July 1946 | 16 September 1949 | ||
| Sir Gerald Creasy | 16 September 1949 | 3 August 1954 | ||
Sir Robert Laycock | 3 August 1954 | 13 February 1959 | ||
Sir Guy Grantham | 13 February 1959 | 2 July 1962 | ||
| Sir Maurice Dorman | 2 July 1962 | 21 September 1964 | ||