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Anthony Mamo

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His Excellency
Sir Anthony Mamo
KUOM OBE QC
1st President of Malta
In office
13 December 1974 – 27 December 1976
Prime MinisterDom Mintoff
Preceded byElizabeth II
as Queen of Malta
Succeeded byAnton Buttigieg
2nd Governor-General of Malta
In office
22 June 1971 – 13 December 1974
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDom Mintoff
Preceded byMaurice Dorman
Succeeded byPosition abolished (Himself as President of Malta)
Chief Justice of Malta
In office
1957–1971
Preceded byLuigi Camilleri
Succeeded byJohn Cremona
Personal details
Born9 January 1909
Birkirkara, Crown Colony of Malta
Died1 May 2008(2008-05-01) (aged 99)
Mosta, Malta
PartyIndependent
Spouse
Margaret Agius
​
​
(m. 1939; died 2002)​
Children3
University of Malta

Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo, KUOM OBE QC (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

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Mamo was born in the town of Birkirkara[1] on 9 January 1909,[2] the son of Joseph Mamo and Carla Brincat. He was educated at the Archbishop's Seminary[2] and then the University of Malta, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1931 and a doctor of laws in 1934.[1]

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.[2] He was in private practice a year before joining the civil service.[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.[2]

He served as Crown Counsel from 1942 and later became attorney general in 1955.[2][3] From 1943, Mamo was a professor of criminal law at the University of Malta.[2] 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.[3] He was given knighthood in 1959.[2]

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). Both were given apppointments to the Venerable Order of St. John later in life; he as a Knight, and she as a Commander.[2]

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

  • The house where Anthony Mamo was born. A plaque commemorates this on the facade
    The house where Anthony Mamo was born. A plaque commemorates this on the facade
  • Memorial monument found at the back of St Helen's Basilica, Birkirkara
    Memorial monument found at the back of St Helen's Basilica, Birkirkara

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Malta's first President dies aged 99 Archived 11 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Times of Malta, 2 May 2008
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Sir Anthony J. Mamo". www.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Sir Anthony Mamo: State funeral tomorrow; The Times of Malta, 1 May 2008
  4. ^ "Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre". deputyprimeminister.gov.mt. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
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