Joseph Xerri was a Maltese theologian and minor philosopher. Almost nothing is known about the personal life of Xerri. He might have been a priest. In 1773, Xerri was appointed to the Chair of Philosophy 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...

, the second since its establishment two years earlier, in 1771, by the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers, Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. However, Xerri was unfortunate enough to be in office when in that same year the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers, Francisco Ximenes de Texada

Francisco Ximenes de Texada

Francisco Ximenes de Texada was the 69th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1773 to 1775. He was regarded by many as highly unpopular and his reign was marked by a revolt of the priests.-External links:* *...

, brought the activities of the university to a complete stop due to presumed over spending and restrictions in budgetary resources. Xerri was thus made redundant. Five years later, in 1778, when the activities of the university were resumed, and the Chair of Philosophy restored, Xerri was not appointed again. No writings of his, philosophical or otherwise, are known to exist. The same goes for any portrait of him.

Sources

• Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.