Luigi Preziosi, Sir Count
Professor of Ophthalmology
Portrait details: Painted by Edward Caruana
Dingli, 1939.
Born: Sliema, 29/07/1888; Died: 30/07/1965. Education: Flores
College (Malta); University of Malta [1904-10]; postgraduate
studies in Oxford and Rome. Qualifications: B.Sc. [Malta,
1907]; M.D. [Malta, 1910]; D.O. [Oxon, 1920];
Career:
Government Heath Service: During World War I served as
medical officer in the RAMC; World War II served as Ophthalmic
Surgeon and consultant to the Services. Appointed Assistant to
Ophthalmic Surgeon and subsequently Ophthalmic Surgeon
[1924]. University of Malta: Professor of Ophthalmology [1924].
Served on the General Council of the University. Achievements:
Preziosi described his famous ophthalmic operation for glaucoma
published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology in September
1924, and had the opportunity to discuss the surgical technique
in several international medical for a including the Italian Society
of Ophthalmology (Rome, Italy, 1924), the Florence Congress
(1939), and the International Congresses of Ophthalmology held
in Amsterdam (1929), London (1950) and New York (1954). The
operation was also discussed at the Irish Ophthalmological
Society (1956). He represented the Faculty of Medicine in the
University Council and served as President of the Camera
Medica. He was also actively involved in Maltese Politics first in
the interest of the U.P.M., later in the interests of the National
Party until 1949; elected Senator in the 1927 legislature;
President of Senate [1932]; President of National Congress to
draft new Constitution [1944], President of National Assembly
[1945]. Also served as President of the Committee of Privileges
of the Maltese Nobility [after 1959]. In 1948 was created Knight
Bachelor and in 1956 Knight of Magistral Grace of the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta. After his death was honoured by the
erection of a monument to his memory in the Mall at Floriana.
References: Preziosi, the Most Noble Count Prof. Sir Luigi. Malta Who’s
Who 1965. A Biographical dictionary. Progress Press, Malta, 1965, p.196;
Portraits at the Medical School. Maltese Medical Journal, 1995,
VII[1]:p.62; J. Sammut, M. J. Schiavone: Preziosi, Sir Luigi. Maltese
biographies of the twentieth century [eds. M.J. Schiavone; L.J. Scerri].
PIN, Malta, 1997, p.462-463.
http://www.um.edu.mt/umms/museum/portrait
Wednesday, 03 December 2014