100th Anniversary Of The Birth Of Dominic Mintoff

This year marks the 100th anniversary from the birth of former Maltese prime minister Dom Mintoff. Born in Cospicua on 6 August 1916 Dominic Mintoff was known for his extensive and notable political career in Malta since the 1940s.

He studied at the Archbishop's Seminary and the Royal University of Malta from where he graduated Bachelor of Science and later as architect and civil engineer. He was then awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and pursued his studies at Hertford College, Oxford, where he received a Masters in Science and Engineering in 1939. He worked in Britain until 1943, and then returned to Malta and worked as an architect while helping to reestablish the Labour Party in Malta, soon becoming its deputy Leader and Minister of Reconstruction by 1947. He married to Moyra de Vere Bentinck in 1947 having met her during his Oxford years. Together they had two daughters, Anne and Yana.

By 1949 Mintoff had become Leader of the Labour Party, serving as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance from 1955 to 1958, when Malta was still a British colony; and as Prime Minister again between 1971 and 1984, after Malta had gained its Independence from Great Britain in 1964. Mintoff worked for an amendment in the constitution in order to transform Malta from a monarchy to a Republic in 1974. In 1979 the British military base in Malta was closed at the expiry of its lease that had been running since 1972.

In 1984 Mintoff resigned from Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party however he retained his parliamentary seat and remained a backbencher until 1998. Upon retiring from politics his involvement in public life was minimal and only expressed his views in public on selective issues.

Dom Mintoff passed away on 20 August 2012 in Tarxien at the age of 96, and was accorded a state funeral five days later.