Anton Buttigieg KUOM (19 February 1912 – 5 May 1983) was a Maltese politician and poet who served as the second president of Malta from 1976 to 1981. Prior to his tenure as president he was a member of the Parliament of Malta and president of the Labour Party.
Early life and education
Anton Buttigieg was born in Qala, Malta, on 19 February 1912. He was educated at Qala Primary School, Gozo Seminarym and St Aloysius College. Buttigieg wanted to attend college to become a lawyer and his parents allowed him on the condition that he also study to become a priest. He graduated from the University of Malta with a degree in theology and juirsprudence.
Buttigieg became a notary in 1939, and a lawyer on 24 June 1940. During World War II he was stationed in Hamrun and was a police inspector.
Career
Writing
Buttigieg started writing poetry in 1929, and his work was published in Pronostku Malti. He was a member of the Akkademja tal-Malti and a member of Għaqda tal-Malti -—Universita founded by Rużar Briffa and Ġużè Bonnici. From 1944 to 1948, he was a law reporter for the Times of Malta. He wrote an autobiography, Toni tal-Baħri, which was three volumes in length.
Politics
Buttigieg joined the Labour Party in 1955, and was elected to the Parliament of Malta in 1956. He was the president of the Labour Party from 1959 to 1961. He served in the parliament until his appointment to the presidency.
In 1971, Buttigieg was appointed as Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Dom Mintoff. From 1976 to 1982, he served as the second President of Malta. During his tenure as president the British left Malta on 31 March 1979.
Personal life
Buttigieg married Carmen Bezzina, with whom he had three children before her death. He married Connie Scicluna, but she died in a traffic accident three years later in London. In 1975, he married Margery Helen. Buttigieg died on 5 May 1983. A state funeral was held for him and he was buried in Addolorata Cemetery, Paola.
Publications
Lyrical poetry
Mill-Gallarija ta' Żgħożiti (From the Balcony of my Youth; 1949)
Poeżiji Miġbura – L-ewwel Volum: the first two books, From the Balcony of my Youth and Lamps in the Night were published in 1978 in one volume under the title Collected Poems
Humorous poetry
Ejjew nidħku ftit (Let us laugh a little; 1963)