Joseph Howard (politician)

Joseph Howard (* 1862 in Valletta ; † May 20, 1925 ) was a Maltese politician and the first Prime Minister of Malta under British colonial power .

After attending high school, he served as an officer in the French military school Saint-Cyr . He later switched to business and was director of the tobacco industry "Cousis Cigarettes".

In 1912 Howard was elected as a candidate for the Comitato Patrittico for a member of the government council. He was also president of the government's immigration committee. Between 1914 and 1919 he was consul in Japan . In 1919 he led a Maltese delegation to France to advise Maltese people to work in France.

He was then elected Senator of the first Maltese Parliament in 1921 as a member of the United Party of Malta of Monsignor Panzevecchia. When Monsignor Panzevecchia turned down the office of Prime Minister, the then British Governor Herbert Plumer Howard offered this office. Between October 1921 and October 13, 1923, Howard was Prime Minister of the first government of Malta with the support of the Labor Party. During this time, he was particularly committed to expanding the administration.

Finally, between 1923 and 1925, he was President of the Chamber of Commerce. He was also President of the Art Society (“Societa dell'Arte”) and the Philharmonic Society of Valletta (“La Societa Filarmonica La Vallette”).

For his services he became an Officer of the British Empire ( OBE ).

Web links

• Biography on the homepage of the Maltese government
• Biographical data in rulers.org