Anthony Mamo
Encyclopedia
Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo, OBE
, QC
(9 January 1909 – 1 May 2008) was the first President of Malta
and previously served as the last Governor-General
, representing Elizabeth II
as Queen of Malta
, when the country was a Commonwealth realm
. He was also the first Maltese citizen to be appointed Governor-General, and before independence, briefly served as acting Governor.
, 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 his law degree in 1934. He was in private practice for a year before joining the civil service. He served as Crown Counsel from 1942 and later became attorney general.
in 1957 where he served until 1971 when he was appointed as the first Maltese Governor-General. He served in that position 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.
in 1955 and was subsequently knighted two years later. He was made Sieheb il-Gieh within the National Order of Merit in 1993.
From 8 June 2007, when former Somali
President Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
died until his own death, Mamo was the world's oldest living former head of state.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(9 January 1909 – 1 May 2008) was the first President of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and previously served as the last Governor-General
Governor-General of Malta
-Governors of Malta, 1813-1964:*Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Maitland *General Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings *Major-General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby *Lieut.-General Sir Patrick Stuart *Right Honourable Richard More O'Ferrall -Governors of Malta, 1813-1964:*Lieut.-General...
, representing Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
as Queen of Malta
Queen of Malta
This title of Queen of Malta was held by Elizabeth II between September 21, 1964 and December 13, 1974, following Malta's independence from the United Kingdom....
, when the country was a Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
. He was also the first Maltese citizen to be appointed Governor-General, and before independence, briefly served as acting Governor.
Early life
Mamo was born in the town of BirkirkaraBirkirkara
Birkirkara or B'Kara is a city of 25,858 inhabitants in central Malta. It is the most populated town on the island and consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Mary. It also houses one of the most famous colleges in Malta, St Aloysius' College...
, the son of Joseph Mamo and Carla Brincat. He was educated at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
where he earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1931 and his law degree in 1934. He was in private practice for a year before joining the civil service. He served as Crown Counsel from 1942 and later became attorney general.
Political career
Mamo was never involved directly in politics. He was appointed as Chief Justice of MaltaChief Justice of Malta
The Chief Justice of Malta is the primus inter pares of the judicial branch of the Republic of Malta. The Chief Justice leads the business of the Supreme Court and is appointed by the President of Malta acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister of Malta...
in 1957 where he served until 1971 when he was appointed as the first Maltese Governor-General. He served in that position until 13 December 1974, when Malta was proclaimed a republic. He served as president from that date until he was succeeded by Anton Buttigieg
Anton Buttigieg
Anton Buttigieg was a Maltese political figure and poet. He served as the second President of Malta from 1976 until 1981.-Early life:Anton Buttigieg was born in Qala, Gozo, on February 19, 1912, the third child of Salvatore and Concetta...
on 27 December 1976.
Awards Received
Mamo was awarded the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1955 and was subsequently knighted two years later. He was made Sieheb il-Gieh within the National Order of Merit in 1993.
Death
Mamo died on 1 May 2008 at the age of 99, at Casa Arkati Home for Elderly.From 8 June 2007, when former Somali
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
President Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Aden Abdulle Osman Daar , popularly known as Aadan Cadde, was a Somali politician and the country's first President from July 1, 1960 to June 10, 1967.-Biography:...
died until his own death, Mamo was the world's oldest living former head of state.