Sigismondo Savona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sigismondo Savona
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 12 March 1835 Valletta, Crown Colony of Malta
|
| Died | 24 July 1908 (aged 73) |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 1875–1898 |
| Political party | Reform Party (until 1891, 1893–1895) Partito Unionista (1891–1893) People's Party - 1895 (1895–1898) |
| Children | William Savona |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Malta Fencible Regiment |
| Years of service | 1852–1865 |
Sigismondo Savona (born March 12, 1835 – died July 24, 1908) was an important Maltese educator and politician. He played a big part in the "Language Question" in Malta. This was a major debate about which language, English or Italian, should be used more in schools and government. This issue shaped politics in Malta when it was a British colony in the late 1800s.
Contents
Sigismondo Savona's Early Life
Sigismondo Savona was born in Valletta, Malta, on March 12, 1835. He went to school in Chelsea, London, at a place called the Normal School of the Royal Military Asylum.
When he was 17, in 1852, he joined the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment. This was a special military group in Malta. He became a Hospital Sergeant, which meant he helped with medical care. He also worked as the regiment's Schoolmaster, teaching others. He stayed in the military until 1865.
Political Career and Reforms
Savona started his political journey in 1875. He was elected to Malta's Council of Government. This council helped make decisions for the island.
He strongly supported new ideas for Malta. These ideas came from a group called the Rowsell-Julyan-Keenan Commission. One important idea was to remove a tax on grain, which made food cheaper. Another big idea was to promote the English language in Malta.
In 1880, Savona became the Director of Education. This meant he was in charge of schools and learning in Malta. He held this important job for seven years. He later resigned when a committee started looking into the University of Malta.
Leading Political Parties
Savona joined a group called the Reform Party and later became its leader. He thought it was a good idea to publish the party's newspaper, Public Opinion.
He was re-elected in 1889. In 1891, he helped start a new political party called the Partito Unionista with Evaristo Castaldi. This party did not last very long.
In 1893, Savona brought back the Reform Party. But by 1895, he formed yet another party. This one was called the Partito Popolare, and he started it with other important figures like Mgr. Ignazio Panzavecchia.
Savona decided to stop being a politician in 1898.
Personal Life and Family
Sigismondo Savona passed away on July 24, 1908. He had a son named William Savona. William followed in his father's footsteps and also became a politician. He went on to start the Labour Party in Malta.
