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List of governors of Malta

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Summary

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FieldValue
postGovernor
bodyMalta
insigniaRoyal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1952-2022).svg
insigniasize100px
insigniacaptionCoat of arms of the governor of Malta
styleHis Excellency
residenceGrandmaster's Palace, Valletta
appointerKing/Queen of the United Kingdom
precursorCivil Commissioner of Malta
formation5 October 1813
firstSir Thomas Maitland
lastSir Maurice Dorman
abolished21 September 1964
successionGovernor-General of Malta

The governor of Malta () was an official who ruled Malta during the British colonial period between 1813 and 1964. This office replaced that of the civil commissioner. Upon the end of British rule and the creation of the State of Malta in 1964, this office was replaced by the governor-general, who represented the British monarch and not the government of the United Kingdom as did the governor. The office of Governor-General was itself abolished in 1974 and replaced by the post of president when Malta became a republic.

The governor

The governor, appointed by the British monarch (on the advice of the prime minister), maintained executive power in Malta throughout British rule. He was head of the executive council and the pre-independence government of Malta.

The governor was the most powerful official in Malta.

The governor was initially supported by a lieutenant-governor. For example, from ca. 1813 to ca. 1820, Major-General Sir William Hutchinson served as lieutenant governor. After the death of the Marquess of Hastings in 1826, the British government decided to downgrade the post of Governor to Lieutenant-Governor, with a reduced allowance. Sir Frederick Ponsonby was formally designated Lieutenant-Governor and Commander of the Malta Garrison.

List of governors (1801–1964)

Name
(Birth–Death)PortraitTerm of office
Lieutenant-General
Sir Thomas Maitland
(1759–1824)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Thomas Maitland (1813-1824).jpg60px]]5 October 1813
General
Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings
(1754–1826)[[File:Governors of Malta - Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings (1824-1828).jpg60px]]22 March 1824
Major-General
Alexander George Woodford
(1782–1870)
Acting Governor[[File:Alexander Woodford.png60px]]28 November 1826
Major-General
Sir Frederick Ponsonby
(1783–1837)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby (1827-1836).jpg60px]]15 February 1827
George Cardew
(1785–1857)
Acting Governor[[File:General George Cardew (1785–1857).jpg60px]]May 1835
Colonel
Thomas Evans
(1776–1863)
Acting Governor[[File:General Thomas Evans by Richard Dighton.jpg60px]]4 July 1836
Lieutenant-General
Sir Henry Bouverie
(1783–1853)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Henry Bouverie (1836-1843).jpg60px]]1 October 1836
General
Sir Patrick Stuart
(1777–1855)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Patrick Stuart (1845-1847).jpg60px]]1843
Richard More O'Ferrall
(1797–1880)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Richard More O'Farrall (1847-1851).jpg60px]]October 1847
General
Robert Ellice
(1784–1856)
Acting Governor[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg60px]]13 May 1851
Major-General
Sir William Reid
(1791–1858)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir William Reid (1851-1858).jpg60px]]27 October 1851
Lieutenant-General
Sir John Le Marchant
(1803–1874)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir John Le Marchant (1858-1864).jpg60px]]1858
Lieutenant-General
Sir Henry Knight Storks
(1811–1874)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Henry Knight Storks (1864-1867).jpg60px]]15 November 1864
General
Sir Patrick Grant
(1804–1895)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Patrick Grant (1867-1872).jpg60px]]15 May 1867
General
Sir Charles van Straubenzee
(1812–1892)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Charles van Straubenzee (1872-1878).jpg60px]]3 June 1872
General
Sir Arthur Borton
(1814–1893)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Arthur Borton (1878-1884).jpg60px]]10 June 1878
General
Sir Lintorn Simmons
(1821–1903)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Lintorn Simmons (1884-1888).jpg60px]]April 1884
Lieutenant-General
Sir Henry Torrens
(1823–1889)[[File:Governors of Malta - Sir Henry Torrens (1888-1889).jpg60px]]28 September 1888
General
Sir Henry Augustus Smyth
(1825–1906)[[File:HenryAugustusSmyth.jpg60px]]1890
General
Sir Arthur Lyon Fremantle
(1835–1901)[[File:Arthur Fremantle.jpg60px]]1893
General
Sir Francis Grenfell (The 1st Baron Grenfell from July 1902)
(1841–1925)[[File:Francis Wallace Grenfell c.1900 ver 02.jpg60px]]6 January 1899
General
Sir Charles Clarke, 3rd Baronet,
(1839–1932)[[File:Sir Charles Clarke, 3rd Baronet.png60px]]1903
General
Sir Henry Grant
(1848–1919)[[File:Flag of the Governor of Malta (1898–1943).svg60px]]1907
General
Sir Leslie Rundle
(1856–1934)[[File:Leslie Rundle in 1916.jpg60px]]1909
Field Marshal
Paul Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen
(1845–1932)[[File:Paul Methuen, The 3rd Baron Methuen.png60px]]February 1915
Field Marshal
Herbert Plumer, 1st Baron Plumer
(1857–1932)[[File:Herbertplumer.jpg60px]]1919
General
Sir Walter Congreve
(1862–1927)[[File:LtGen W N Congreve.jpg60px]]29 June 1924
General
Sir John Du Cane
(1865–1947)[[File:Major-general Sir John Philip Du Cane, Kcb Art.IWMART1793.jpg60px]]28 February 1927
General
Sir David Campbell
(1869–1936)[[File:Davidcampbell.jpg60px]]June 1931
General
Sir Charles Bonham-Carter
(1876–1955)[[File:Flag of the Governor of Malta (1898–1943).svg60px]]12 March 1936
Lieutenant-General
Sir William Dobbie
(1879–1964)[[File:Sir William George Shedden Dobbie.jpg60px]]April 1940
Field Marshal
John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
(1886–1946)[[File:General the Viscount Gort Vc, Gcb, Cbe, Dso, Mvo, Mc Art.IWMARTLD730.jpg60px]]May 1942
Lieutenant-General
Sir Edmond Schreiber
(1890–1978)[[File:Sir-Edmond-Charles-Acton-Schreiber.jpg60px]]26 September 1944
Sir Francis Douglas
(1889–1980)[[File:Flag of the Governor of Malta (1943–1964).svg60px]]10 July 1946
Sir Gerald Creasy
(1897–1983)[[File:Gerald Creasy in 1949.jpg60px]]16 September 1949
Major-General
Sir Robert Laycock
(1907–1968)[[File:Combined Operations in England, 1943 TR1425 (cropped).jpg60px]]3 August 1954
Admiral
Sir Guy Grantham
(1900–1992)[[File:Guy Grantham in 1950.jpg60px]]13 February 1959
Sir Maurice Dorman
(1902–1993)[[File:Sir-Maurice-Henry-Dorman.jpg60px]]2 July 1962

Lieutenant governors of Malta

;Public Secretary

  • Arthur Baynes 1801
  • Alexander Macauley 1801
  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1804–1805
  • E. F. Chapman 1805
  • Rev. Francis Laing 1811–1813

;Chief Secretary

  • Rev. Francis Laing 1813–1815
  • Alexander Wood 1815–1817
  • Richard Plasket 1817–1824
  • Colonel Sir Frederick Hankey 1824–1837
  • Sir Hector Greig 1837–1847
  • Henry Lushington 1847–1855
  • Sir Victor Houlton 1855–1883
  • Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson 1883–1884

;Lieutenant Governor

  • Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson 1884–1889 (as Lieutenant Governor)
  • Sir Gerald Strickland 1889–1902 (as Chief Secretary)
  • Sir Edward Merewether 1902–1910 (as Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary)

;Chief Secretary

  • Major John Clauson 1911–1914
  • Horace Byatt 1914–1916
  • Sir William C. F. Robertson 1917–1925
  • Sir Thomas Alexander Vans Best 1925–1930
  • Sir Harry Luke 1930–1938
  • John Adams Hunter 1938–1940
  • Sir Edward St. John Jackson 1940–1943
  • Sir David Campbell 1943–1952
  • Trafford Smith 1952–1959
  • Archibald Campbell 1959–1962

Flag of the Governor

File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|Flag used from 1813 to 1875 File:Flag of the Governor of Malta (1875–1898).svg|Flag used from 1875 to 1898 File:Flag of the Governor of Malta (1898–1943).svg|Flag used from 1898 to 1943 File:Flag of the Governor of Malta (1943–1964).svg|Flag used from 1943 to 1964

References

References

  1. Bulletins of State Intelligence, Etc., 1820, p. 203. London: R. G. Clarke.
  2. Malta Government Gazette 1826.
  3. (27 October 2013). "Sir Hildebrand Oakes' resignation as Governor of Malta in 1813". [[Times of Malta]].
  4. {{London Gazette. (25 November 1902)
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