First President of Malta. Birkirkara born Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo was the only Maltese Governor General of the island before he was appointed President of then newly formed Republic. Educated at the Archbishop's Seminary and the University of Malta where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1931 and a law degree in 1934, he was awarded the Government travelling scholarship and the Bugeja Scholarship, being the first student in the course. In private practice for a year before joining the civil service, he was named Crown Counsel in 1942 and later Attorney General in 1955. Appointed Chief Justice in 1957 and Governor General in 1971, when Malta was declared a Republic on December 13, 1974, he was appointed its first President, holding such office until December 26, 1976, when he was succeeded by Anton Buttigieg. Lecturing criminal law for years at the University of Malta, he was eventually named president of the council and pro-chancellor of the named University while in recognition of his services, was awarded the honorary degree of doctor of literature. Appointed member of the Order of the British Empire in 1955, he was knighted two years later by Queen Elizabeth II. The Republic of Malta named him Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit and "Sieħeb il-Ġieħ", Malta's highest honor in the Order of 'Ġieħ ir-Repubblika', three years later. Passing away at 99 years of age, Sir Anthony was given a state funeral.
First President of Malta. Birkirkara born Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo was the only Maltese Governor General of the island before he was appointed President of then newly formed Republic. Educated at the Archbishop's Seminary and the University of Malta where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1931 and a law degree in 1934, he was awarded the Government travelling scholarship and the Bugeja Scholarship, being the first student in the course. In private practice for a year before joining the civil service, he was named Crown Counsel in 1942 and later Attorney General in 1955. Appointed Chief Justice in 1957 and Governor General in 1971, when Malta was declared a Republic on December 13, 1974, he was appointed its first President, holding such office until December 26, 1976, when he was succeeded by Anton Buttigieg. Lecturing criminal law for years at the University of Malta, he was eventually named president of the council and pro-chancellor of the named University while in recognition of his services, was awarded the honorary degree of doctor of literature. Appointed member of the Order of the British Empire in 1955, he was knighted two years later by Queen Elizabeth II. The Republic of Malta named him Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit and "Sieħeb il-Ġieħ", Malta's highest honor in the Order of 'Ġieħ ir-Repubblika', three years later. Passing away at 99 years of age, Sir Anthony was given a state funeral.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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