Born on the 1^st of July, 1953 in Valletta, Lawrence Gonzi spent most of  his childhood years in the Circolo Gioventu’ Cattolica, playing football and being a diligent pupil at the Archbishop’s Seminary in Rabat.  

His interest in politics wakened during his Law Studies at the University of Malta from where he graduated as a lawyer in 1975. Following that he practiced law in a private firm and later on worked as a company lawyer with the Mizzi Organisation for whom he served as Group Chairman between 1989 and 1997.  

Soon after his graduation as a lawyer, Lawrence Gonzi actively engaged himself in the Voluntary Sector, particularly in the sectors related to disability issues and mental health issues. He was also the General President of the Malta Catholic Action Movement between 1976 and 1986.  

Having had these varied and enriching experiences within the voluntary and business sector, and spurred by the politico-religion conflict of the eighties, Lawrence Gonzi, decided to contest the 1987 General Election as a candidate with the Nationalist Party on the Second and Third electoral districts. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on 10^th October 1988 during the Sixth Legislature (1988-1992), and on the 5^th April 1992 he was unanimously re-elected Speaker for the Seventh Legislature (1992-1996). His tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives exposed his modest but firm bearing, which has helped calm frayed tempers during quite difficult moments for the House.  

Lawrence Gonzi contested the October 1996 General Elections and was elected to Parliament from the Second District. In November 1996, he was appointed Opposition Party Whip, Secretary to the Parliamentary Group and Shadow Minister for Social Policy. A year after he was elected Secretary General of the Nationalist Party, during which time he mustered the Nationalist Party into electoral victory just after twenty-two months of Labour Administration.  

Following the September 1998 General Elections, Lawrence Gonzi was again elected from the Second District and subsequently appointed Minister for Social Policy and Leader of the House of Representatives.  

The appointment of Prof. Guide De Marco as President of the Republic, on May 2^nd 1999 , prompted Lawrence Gonzi to contested and successfully get elected as Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party. Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami subsequently designated him as Deputy Prime Minister. He re-contested and was re-confirmed to the same ministerial portfolio. During his years at the Social Policy Ministry, Lawrence Gonzi is best remembered for the changes in employment and industrial relations legislation, his zero-tolerance policy towards benefit fraud and for the landmark Shipyards Restructuring Agreement.  

Eddie Fenech Adami stepped down as Leader of the Nationalist Party in February 2003, and in the subsequent leadership contest, Lawrence Gonzi won a large majority of the party support. On the 23^rd March 2004, Lawrence Gonzi took oath of office as Prime Minister of Malta.  Lawrence Gonzi is also Minister Finance.

Lawrence Gonzi is married to educator Catherine nee’ Callus and have three children: David, Mikela and Paul.