List of Governors of Malta

Governor of Malta

Coat of Arms of the Governor of Malta
Sir Thomas Maitland
Style His Excellency
Residence Grandmaster's Palace
Appointer King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Precursor Civil Commissioner of Malta
Formation 23 July 1813
First holder Sir Thomas Maitland
Final holder Sir Maurice Henry Dorman
Abolished 21 September 1964
Succession Governor-General of Malta
Flag of the Governor of Malta from 1813 to 1875
Flag of the Governor of Malta from 1875 to 1898
Flag of the Governor of Malta from 1898 to 1943
Flag of the Governor of Malta from 1943 to 1964

The British 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 replace 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.

List of Governors (1813–1964)

Name Portrait Born-Died From To
Thomas Maitland 1759–1824 23 July 1813 17 January 1824
Francis Rawdon-Hastings 1754–1826 22 March 1824 28 November 1826
Alexander George Woodford (acting) 1782–1870 28 November 1826 15 February 1827
Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby 1783–1837 15 February 1827 May 1835
(de jure until 30 September 1836)
George Cardew (acting) 1785-1857 May 1835 4 July 1836
Thomas Evans (acting) 1776–1863 4 July 1836 30 September 1836
Henry Bouverie 1783–1853 1 October 1836 1843
Patrick Stuart 1777-1855 1843 October 1847
Richard More O'Ferrall 1797–1880 October 1847 13 May 1851
Robert Ellice (acting) 13 May 1851 27 October 1851
William Reid 1791–1858 27 October 1851 1858
John Le Marchant 1803–1874 1858 15 November 1864
Henry Knight Storks 1811–1874 15 November 1864 15 May 1867
Patrick Grant 1804–1895 15 May 1867 3 June 1872
Charles van Straubenzee 1812–1892 3 June 1872 13 May 1878
Arthur Borton 1814-1893 10 June 1878 April 1884
John Linthorn Simmons 1821–1903 April 1884 28 September 1888
Henry Torrens 1823–1889 28 September 1888 1 December 1889
Henry Augustus Smyth 1825–1906 1890 1893
Arthur Fremantle 1835–1901 1893 6 January 1899
Francis Wallace Grenfell 1841–1925 6 January 1899 1903
Charles Clarke 1839–1932 1903 1907
Henry Grant 1848–1919 1907 1909
Leslie Rundle 1856–1934 1909 February 1915
Paul Methuen 1845–1932 February 1915 May 1919
Herbert Plumer 1857–1932 1919 1924
Walter Norris Congreve 1862–1927 29 June 1924 28 February 1927
John Philip Du Cane 1865–1947 28 February 1927 1931
David Campbell 1869–1936 June 1931 12 March 1936
Charles Bonham-Carter 1876–1955 12 March 1936 1940
William Dobbie 1879–1964 April 1940 May 1942
John Vereker (Lord Gort) 1886–1946 May 1942 26 September 1944
Edmond Schreiber 1890–1978 26 September 1944 10 July 1946
Francis Douglas 1889–1980 10 July 1946 16 September 1949
Gerald Creasy 1897–1983 16 September 1949 3 August 1954
Robert Laycock 1907–1968 3 August 1954 13 February 1959
Guy Grantham 1900–1992 13 February 1959 2 July 1962
Maurice Henry Dorman 1902–1993 2 July 1962 21 September 1964

Lieutenant Governors of Malta

Public Secretary

Chief Secretary

Lieutenant Governor Sir Walter Hely-Huthcinson Lieutenant Governor 1884-1889

Sir Gerald Strickland Chief Secretary 1889-1902

Sir Edward Marsh Merewether Lieutenant Governor 1902-1911

Chief Secretary

See also

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