SIR JOSEPH HOWARD: PRIME MINISTER OF MALTA (1921
- 1923)
Born in Valletta in 1862, Malta's first Prime Minister under
the Colonial Government, Joseph Howard was educated at the
Lyceum and abroad and served as an officer in the French
Military academy. He joined the commercial sector - the
tobacco industry - and was appointed director of Cousis
Cigarettes. Between 1914 and 1925 he served as consul of Japan
and later President of the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1912, Joseph Howard was elected member to the Council of
Government after being nominated by the Comitato Patriottico.
In 1921, he joined the UPM of Mgr. I. Panzavecchia and was
elected Senator in the first Maltese Parliament. As
Panzavecchia did not accept the premiership, Governor Lord
Plumer offered the post to Howard. Between 1921 and 1923
Joseph Howard managed to lead the first Maltese Government
with the support of the Labour Party. His successes were
mainly due to his keen sense of tolerance and the result of
his vast experience in administration.
Howard was regarded as the gentleman 'par excellence' and
was held in great esteem by politicians of all political
creeds.
Joseph Howard was President of the Government emigration
committee and in 1919 he headed the Maltese delegation to
France which discussed the employment of Maltese labour in
that country.
He was also President of the Societa' dell'Arte,
Manifattura e Commercio and President of the La Societa
Filarmonica La Valette. He was also made Officer of the
British Empire (OBE).
