Anton Buttigieg
President of Malta from 1976 to 1981
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Anton Buttigieg KUOM (Maltese: Anton Buttiġieġ [ɐnˈtɔːn bʊtːɪˈd͡ʒɪːt͡ʃ]; 19 February 1912 – 5 May 1983) was a Maltese politician and poet who served as the second president of Malta from 1976 to 1981. Prior to his tenure as president he was a member of the Parliament of Malta and president of the Labour Party.
Anton Buttigieg | |
|---|---|
| |
| 2nd President of Malta | |
| In office 27 December 1976 – 27 December 1981 | |
| Prime Minister | Dom Mintoff |
| Preceded by | Sir Anthony Mamo |
| Succeeded by | Albert Hyzler (Acting); Agatha Barbara |
| Member of the Parliament of Malta | |
| In office 26 April 1962 – 27 December 1976 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 February 1912 Qala, Crown Colony of Malta |
| Died | 5 May 1983 (aged 71) Qala, Malta |
| Party | Labour Party |
| Spouse(s) | Carmen Bezzina (1944–1953) Connie Scicluna (1953–1957) Margery Patterson (1975–1983) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
Anton Buttigieg was born in Qala, Malta, on 19 February 1912. He was educated at Qala Primary School, Gozo Seminarym and St Aloysius College.[1][2] Buttigieg wanted to attend college to become a lawyer and his parents allowed him on the condition that he also study to become a priest.[3] He graduated from the University of Malta with a degree in theology and jurisprudence.[1][2]
Buttigieg became a notary in 1939, and a lawyer on 24 June 1940. During World War II he was stationed in Hamrun[3] and was a police inspector.[2]
Career
Writing
Buttigieg started writing poetry in 1929, and his work was published in Pronostku Malti. He was a member of the Akkademja tal-Malti[1] and a member of Għaqda tal-Malti -—Universita founded by Rużar Briffa and Ġużè Bonnici.[4][5] From 1944 to 1948, he was a law reporter for the Times of Malta.[2] He wrote an autobiography, Toni tal-Baħri, which was three volumes in length.[1]
Politics
Buttigieg joined the Labour Party in 1955, and was elected to the Parliament of Malta in 1956.[1] He was the president of the Labour Party from 1959 to 1961.[2] He served in the parliament until his appointment to the presidency.[6]
In 1971, Buttigieg was appointed as Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.[1][2] From 1976 to 1982, he served as the second President of Malta. During his tenure as president the British left Malta on 31 March 1979.[1]
Personal life
Buttigieg married Carmen Bezzina, with whom he had three children before her death. He married Connie Scicluna, but she died in a traffic accident three years later in London. In 1975, he married Margery Helen.[3] Buttigieg died on 5 May 1983.[2] A state funeral was held for him and he was buried in Addolorata Cemetery, Paola.[3]
Publications
Lyrical poetry
Humorous poetry
- Ejjew nidħku ftit (Let us laugh a little; 1963)[3]