Ċensu Tabone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ċensu Tabone
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Official portrait
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| 4th President of Malta | |
| In office 4 April 1989 – 4 April 1994 |
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| Prime Minister | Eddie Fenech Adami |
| Preceded by | Paul Xuereb (Acting) Agatha Barbara |
| Succeeded by | Ugo Mifsud Bonnici |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Vincent Tabone
30 March 1913 Victoria, Gozo, British Malta |
| Died | 14 March 2012 (aged 98) St. Julian's, Malta |
| Resting place | Santa Maria Cemetery, Victoria, Gozo |
| Political party | Nationalist Party |
| Spouse | Maria Wirth (1941–2012; his death) |
| Children | 8 |
Vincent "Ċensu" Tabone (born March 30, 1913 – died March 14, 2012) was an important leader in Malta. He served as the fourth President of Malta. He was also a government minister and a member of parliament for the Nationalist Party. He was known for his work as a doctor, especially in public health.
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Early Life and Education
Ċensu Tabone was born in Victoria, Gozo, which was then part of British Malta. He was born on March 30, 1913. He was the youngest of ten children. His father, Niccolò, was one of the first Maltese doctors to study pathology and surgery in the United Kingdom. He worked as a doctor in different parts of Gozo.
When Ċensu was nine years old, his father passed away. Two years later, at age 11, he moved to Malta. He became a student at St. Aloysius College, a Jesuit school. In 1930, he started studying at the University of Malta. He became a pharmacist in 1933 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1937.
Medical Career and War Service
During World War II, Ċensu Tabone worked as a doctor for the Royal Malta Artillery. He served as a regimental medical officer. He also worked as an eye specialist trainee at the Military Hospital in Mtarfa. Early in the war, he was lucky to survive when a bomb hit Fort Saint Elmo. The bomb destroyed a large part of the army barracks where he was stationed.
In 1946, he continued his studies in eye medicine. He earned diplomas from the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He also worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
In 1948, Tabone led a campaign to treat trachoma. Trachoma is an eye disease. He used special tablets and drops to fight the disease. Thanks to his efforts, trachoma was almost completely removed from the island of Gozo. He later helped with similar campaigns in other countries. These included Taiwan, Indonesia, and Iraq. He did this work with the World Health Organization (WHO). He also became an expert consultant for the WHO on trachoma.
Ċensu Tabone was a member of the Council of the University of Malta. From 1957 to 1960, he taught clinical ophthalmology. He also helped start the Medical Association of Malta in 1954. For many years, he continued to work as a doctor in Sliema, even while serving in Parliament.
Political Career
Ċensu Tabone became involved in politics in 1961. He was elected to the executive committee of the Nationalist Party. He later served as the party's Secretary-General from 1962 to 1972. He was also the Deputy Leader from 1972 to 1977.
Tabone was first elected to the Maltese Parliament in 1966. He served as a Member of Parliament for 23 years. During this time, he represented areas like Sliema, St. Julian's, Msida, and Gżira. He held important government roles. He was the Minister of Labour, Employment and Welfare from 1966 to 1971. He also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1989.
In 1968, Tabone proposed an idea at the United Nations. He called for a plan to help the world's aging population. In 1988, he made another important proposal at the UN. He suggested that the world's climate should be considered a common heritage for all people.
Personal Life
On November 23, 1941, Ċensu Tabone married Maria Wirth. They were married for over 70 years. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary shortly before his death. Ċensu and Maria Tabone had eight children. They also had 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Death
Ċensu Tabone passed away at his home in St. Julian's, Malta. He died on March 14, 2012, at the age of 98. He died just 16 days before his 99th birthday.
Honours
Ċensu Tabone received several important honours during his life.
National Honours
- Malta: Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit (1990). He received this honour automatically as a President of Malta.
Foreign Honours
- Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
See also
In Spanish: Ċensu Tabone para niños
