Sigismondo Savona

Savona's political career began when he was elected to Malta's Council of Government in the 1875 election. He favoured the reforms proposed in the Rowsell-Julyan-Keenan Commission including the abolition of the tax on grain and the promotion of the English language in Malta.^[2][3] He was appointed Director of Education in 1880, and he held the post for seven years until he resigned after a committee was set up to inquire into the University of Malta.^[2]

Savona joined and subsequently led the Reform Party and he recommended publishing the party's newspaper Public Opinion. He was elected in the 1889 election, and in 1891 he formed a new political party known as the Partito Unionista together with Evaristo Castaldi. This was short-lived and Savona re-established the Reform Party in 1893, but in 1895 he formed yet another party, the Partito Popolare, together with Mgr. Ignazio Panzavecchia, A. Dalli and A. Pullicino.^[2]

Savona retired from politics in 1898.^[2]

Savona died on 24 July 1908.^[1] He is buried at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery in Paola, the largest burial ground of Malta.^[4] Savona had a son named William, who also became a politician and who founded the Labour Party.^[1]