Fortunato Mizzi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born of Francesco Mizzi Marianna Galea,[2] Fortunato Mizzi was a descendant of an old Italian-Maltese family, whose ancestor Pietro Mizzi emigrated to Gozo from Italy in 1655.[3] Mizzi was a member of the Pro-Italian Maltese community and showed in his political activity strong support toward Italy's Risorgimento and in defence of the official use of the Italian language and of Italian culture in Malta.[4]
Mizzi founded the Partito Anti-Riformista in 1880 and, later, the Partito Nazionale (today's Nationalist Party). he would campaign for a new constitution from the one that was made back in 1849.[4]
Mizzi was instrumental to obtain liberal and progressive constitutional changes for the country during the colonial period, and is credited with starting the process which eventually led to Malta's independence.[5]
In 1871 Fortunato Mizzi married Maria Sofia (Marie Sophie) Folliero de Luna (1847–1903), daughter of Giuseppe, vice-consul of Naples.[2] They had a son in 1885 by the name of Enrico (Nerik) who in 1950 became Prime Minister of Malta shortly before dying.[6]