Barbara, Agatha (1923–2002)

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Barbara, Agatha (1923–2002)

Maltese president. Born Mar 11, 1923, in Zabbar, Malta; died Feb 4, 2002; honored by a state funeral; eldest dau. and 2nd of 9 children of Joseph and Antonia Barbara.

Educated in Valletta and became a schoolteacher; contested General Elections (1947) for Malta Labour Party and became 1st woman elected to House of Representatives; sentenced to 43 days hard labor for picketing in the national strike (1958); served as minister of Education (1958–58, 1971–74), introducing compulsory and full-time education up to age 14; also served as minister of Labour, Culture, and Welfare, and acting prime minister several times; became 1st female president of Malta (1982), serving until 1987; was the 1st woman to successfully contest every election from 1947 until her retirement; served on many delegations to international conferences.