List of governors of Malta

The governor of Malta (Gvernatur ta' Malta) was an official who ruled Malta during the British colonial period between 1813 and 1964. This office replaced that of the civil commissioner. Upon the end of British rule and the creation of the State of Malta in 1964, this office was replaced by the governor-general, who represented the British monarch and not the government of the United Kingdom as did the governor. The office of Governor-General was itself abolished in 1974 and replaced by the post of president when Malta became a republic.

The governor
The governor, appointed by the British monarch (on the advice of the prime minister), maintained executive power in Malta throughout British rule. He was head of the executive council and the pre-independence government of Malta.

The governor was the most powerful official in Malta.

The governor was initially supported by a lieutenant-governor. For example, from ca. 1813 to ca. 1820, Major-General Sir William Hutchinson served as lieutenant governor. After the death of the Marquess of Hastings in 1826, the British government decided to downgrade the post of Governor to Lieutenant-Governor, with a reduced allowance. Sir Frederick Ponsonby was formally designated Lieutenant-Governor and Commander of the Malta Garrison.

Lieutenant governors of Malta

 * Public Secretary
 * Arthur Baynes 1801
 * Alexander Macauley 1801
 * Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1804–1805
 * E.F. Chapman 1805
 * Rev. Francis Laing 1811–1813


 * Chief Secretary
 * Rev. Francis Laing 1813–1815
 * Alexander Wood 1815–1817
 * Richard Plasket 1817–1824
 * Colonel Sir Frederick Hankey 1824–1837
 * Sir Hector Greig 1837–1847
 * Henry Lushington 1847–1855
 * Sir Victor Houlton 1855–1883
 * Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson 1883–1884


 * Lieutenant Governor
 * Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson 1884–1889 (as Lieutenant Governor)
 * Sir Gerald Strickland 1889–1902 (as Chief Secretary)
 * Sir Edward Marsh Merewether 1902–1910 (as Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary)


 * Chief Secretary
 * Major John Eugene Clauson 1911–1914
 * Horace Archer Byatt 1914–1916
 * Sir William C. F. Robertson 1917–1925
 * Sir Thomas Alexander Vans Best 1925–1930
 * Sir Harry Charles Luke 1930–1938
 * John Adams Hunter 1938–1940
 * Sir Edward St. John Jackson 1940–1943
 * Sir David Campbell 1943–1952
 * Trafford Smith 1952–1959
 * Archibald Campbell 1959–1962