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Governor of Malta
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1952-2022).svg
Coat of arms of the governor of Malta
Style His Excellency
Residence Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta
Appointer King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Precursor Civil Commissioner of Malta
Formation 5 October 1813
First holder Sir Thomas Maitland
Final holder Sir Maurice Dorman
Abolished 21 September 1964
Succession Governor-General of Malta

The governor of Malta (Maltese: Gvernatur ta' 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)
Portrait Term of office
Lieutenant-General
Sir Thomas Maitland
(1759–1824)
Governors of Malta - Sir Thomas Maitland (1813-1824).jpg 5 October 1813 17 January 1824
General
The 1st Marquess of Hastings
(1754–1826)
Governors of Malta - Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings (1824-1828).jpg 22 March 1824 28 November 1826
Major-General
Alexander George Woodford
(1782–1870)
Acting Governor
Alexander Woodford.png 28 November 1826 15 February 1827
Major-General
Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby
(1783–1837)
Governors of Malta - Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby (1827-1836).jpg 15 February 1827 May 1835
De jure until 30 September 1836
George Cardew
(1785–1857)
Acting Governor
General George Cardew (1785–1857).jpg May 1835 4 July 1836
Lieutenant-General
Sir Thomas Evans
(1776–1863)
Acting Governor
General Thomas Evans by Richard Dighton.jpg 4 July 1836 30 September 1836
Lieutenant-General
Sir Henry Bouverie
(1783–1853)
Governors of Malta - Sir Henry Bouverie (1836-1843).jpg 1 October 1836 1843
General
Sir Patrick Stuart
(1777–1855)
Governors of Malta - Sir Patrick Stuart (1845-1847).jpg 1843 October 1847
Richard More O'Ferrall
(1797–1880)
Governors of Malta - Sir Richard More O'Farrall (1847-1851).jpg October 1847 13 May 1851
General
Robert Ellice
(1784–1856)
Acting Governor
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 13 May 1851 27 October 1851
Major-General
Sir William Reid
(1791–1858)
Governors of Malta - Sir William Reid (1851-1858).jpg 27 October 1851 1858
Lieutenant-General
Sir John Le Marchant
(1803–1874)
Governors of Malta - Sir John Le Marchant (1858-1864).jpg 1858 15 November 1864
Lieutenant-General
Sir Henry Knight Storks
(1811–1874)
Governors of Malta - Sir Henry Knight Storks (1864-1867).jpg 15 November 1864 15 May 1867
General
Sir Patrick Grant
(1804–1895)
Governors of Malta - Sir Patrick Grant (1867-1872).jpg 15 May 1867 3 June 1872
General
Sir Charles van Straubenzee
(1812–1892)
Governors of Malta - Sir Charles van Straubenzee (1872-1878).jpg 3 June 1872 13 May 1878
General
Sir Arthur Borton
(1814–1893)
Governors of Malta - Sir Arthur Borton (1878-1884).jpg 10 June 1878 April 1884
General
Sir Lintorn Simmons
(1821–1903)
Governors of Malta - Sir Lintorn Simmons (1884-1888).jpg April 1884 28 September 1888
Lieutenant-General
Sir Henry Torrens
(1823–1889)
Governors of Malta - Sir Henry Torrens (1888-1889).jpg 28 September 1888 1 December 1889
General
Sir Henry Augustus Smyth
(1825–1906)
HenryAugustusSmyth.jpg 1890 1893
General
Sir Arthur Lyon Fremantle
(1835–1901)
Arthur Fremantle.jpg 1893 6 January 1899
General
Sir Francis Grenfell (The 1st Baron Grenfell from July 1902)
(1841–1925)
Francis Wallace Grenfell.jpg 6 January 1899 1903
General
Sir Charles Clarke,
3rd Bt.
(1839–1932)
Sir Charles Clarke, 3rd Baronet.png 1903 1907
General
Sir Henry Grant
(1848–1919)
Flag of the Governor of Malta (1898–1943).svg 1907 1909
General
Sir Leslie Rundle
(1856–1934)
Leslie Rundle in 1916.jpg 1909 February 1915
Field Marshal
The 3rd Baron Methuen
(1845–1932)
Paul Methuen, The 3rd Baron Methuen.png February 1915 May 1919
Field Marshal
The 1st Baron Plumer
(1857–1932)
Herbertplumer.jpg 1919 1924
General
Sir Walter Congreve
(1862–1927)
LtGen W N Congreve.jpg 29 June 1924 28 February 1927
General
Sir John Philip Du Cane
(1865–1947)
Major-general Sir John Philip Du Cane, Kcb Art.IWMART1793.jpg 28 February 1927 1931
General
Sir David Campbell
(1869–1936)
Davidcampbell.jpg June 1931 12 March 1936
General
Sir Charles Bonham-Carter
(1876–1955)
Flag of the Governor of Malta (1898–1943).svg 12 March 1936 1940
Lieutenant-General
Sir William Dobbie
(1879–1964)
Sir William George Shedden Dobbie.jpg April 1940 May 1942
Field Marshal
The 6th Viscount Gort
(1886–1946)
General the Viscount Gort Vc, Gcb, Cbe, Dso, Mvo, Mc Art.IWMARTLD730.jpg May 1942 26 September 1944
Lieutenant-General
Sir Edmond Schreiber
(1890–1978)
Sir-Edmond-Charles-Acton-Schreiber.jpg 26 September 1944 10 July 1946
Sir Francis Douglas
(1889–1980)
Flag of the Governor of Malta (1943–1964).svg 10 July 1946 16 September 1949
Sir Gerald Creasy
(1897–1983)
Flag of the Governor of Malta (1943–1964).svg 16 September 1949 3 August 1954
Major-General
Sir Robert Laycock
(1907–1968)
INF3-77 pt9 General R E Laycock.jpg 3 August 1954 13 February 1959
Admiral
Sir Guy Grantham
(1900–1992)
Flag of the Governor of Malta (1943–1964).svg 13 February 1959 2 July 1962
Sir Maurice Dorman
(1902–1993)
Flag of the Governor of Malta (1943–1964).svg 2 July 1962 21 September 1964

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 Marsh Merewether 1902–1910 (as Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary)
Chief Secretary
  • Major John Eugene Clauson 1911–1914
  • Horace Archer Byatt 1914–1916
  • Sir William C. F. Robertson 1917–1925
  • Sir Thomas Alexander Vans Best 1925–1930
  • Sir Harry Charles 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

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