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Vincenzo Bugeja (1820-1890) was a
Vincenzo Bugeja (1820-1890) was a Maltese
Maltese may refer to:
* Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta
* Maltese alphabet
* Maltese cuisine
* Maltese culture
* Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people
* Maltese people, people from Malta or of Malte ...
businessman and philanthropist.
Bugeja made his wealth by gambling
Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three el ...
in the casinos of Europe, from Montecarlo onwards, where he earned the nickname as "the Maltese Matador". He is rumoured to have almost bankrupted the bank in Baden. He married Anna Darbois of Naples; they did not have children. They lived in a stately home on St Barbara Bastion, Valletta.
In the second half of the 19th century Bugeja was active in Maltese politics. As member of the Council of Government, he was responsible for several amendments in the criminal and commercial laws of Malta.
With his winnings, Bugeja founded charities for the sick and the poor, bequeathing 20,000 pounds for that aim. Since May 1880 he financed the new Conservatorio in Hamrun
Hamrun (; ) is a town in the Southern Region of Malta, with a population of 9,244 as of March 2014.
The people
The townspeople are traditionally known as ''Tas-Sikkina'' (literally meaning 'of the knife' or 'those who carry a knife') or as '' ...
(which will get his name) so that orphan girls could get boarding and education by the Sisters of Charity.
In his will Bugeja also established the Bugeja Fund for Migrants, with an endowment of 500,000 French francs. Prospective beneficiaries had to be Maltese nationals, male, 17-26 years of age, unmarried, healthy, of good conduct, able to speak English, Italian or French, with a basic knowledge of arithmetic and calligraphy, and belonging to the middle class. These were very restrictive conditions. Some 69 Maltese emigrants received support from the fund between 1901 and 1911, in particular few who moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
, Canada.
Due to his largess, Pope Leo XIII made him a Marquis
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
on 19 April 1887. He was also made a Knight of the Garter by Prince Edward of Wales during his stop in Malta on his way back from India.
He was honoured with a monument at the Maglio Gardens in Floriana. The Vincenzo Bugeja Secondary School for Boys in Santa Venera is named after him.
Notes
See also
* Emigration from Malta *Ioannis Papafis
Ioannis Papafis or Giovanni di Niccolò Pappaffy ( el, Ιωάννης Παπάφης; 1792 – 1886) was a Greek businessman and philanthropist, prominent for helping in the funding of the Greek War of Independence and in financing crucial sector ...
Bibliography
* Profiles in Maltese Migration by Fr Lawrence E. Attard, 2003, PEG, Malta {{DEFAULTSORT:Bugeja, Vincenzo 1820 births 1890 deaths Maltese businesspeople