Ġużè Ellul Mercer
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Ġużè Ellul Mercer (22 March 1897 – 22 September 1961) 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 Maltese ...
writer,
journalist A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...
and
politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
. He joined the Labour Party (PL) and he started his parliamentary career in 1924. He was subsequently elected Member of Parliament at the general elections held in
1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the Uni ...
and
1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...
. In 1955, he was elected Labour Party deputy-leader for parliamentary affairs. He was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Works and Reconstruction in 1955, but lost that position after the 1958 election.


Early life and career

Ellul Mercer was born in
Msida Msida (, ) is a harbour town in the Eastern Region, Malta, Eastern Region of Malta with a population of 7,623 (2021). Location The town is located just west of Valletta on the northeast coast of Malta. The neighbouring towns of Msida are Ta' ...
in 1897, to Salvu Ellul and Jane née Mercer. He was the eldest amongst twelve siblings. His maternal uncle, Anthony Mercer was involved in setting up
boy scouts Boy Scouts or Boy Scout may refer to: * Members, sections or organisations in the Scouting Movement ** Scout (Scouting), a boy or a girl participating in the worldwide Scouting movement ** Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America ...
in Malta during
Baden-Powell Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, ( ; 22 February 1857 – 8 January 1941) was a British Army officer, writer, founder of The Boy Scouts Association and its first Chief Scout, and founder, with ...
's governorship of the islands. His maternal grandfather was a
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and
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who designed a new dock at the Malta Drydocks. On the islands he met with his future wife, having one daughter together, Jane. Ellul Mercer's grandfather was
Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
, but converted to
Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
on his deathbed. His paternal grandparents were merchants and mastika-producers, owning a shop in ''Strada Merkanti'', in
Valletta Valletta ( ; , ) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 Local councils of Malta, council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta’s capital ...
. Ellul Mercer's parents also became spirit merchants. One of Ellul Mercer's siblings became a
Franciscan friar The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor being the largest contem ...
, acting as a
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in
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and
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. He returned to Malta following the death of his elder brother. Ellul Mercer was educated at the
Gżira Gżira () is a town in the Eastern Region, Malta, Eastern Region of Malta. It is located between Msida and Sliema, also bordering on Ta' Xbiex. It has a population of 11,699 as of January 2019. The word ''Gżira'' means "island" in Maltese ...
elementary school, at ''Flores College'' and the Lyceum. During the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he entered the civil service as a clerk, reaching the grade of ''Chief Clerk'' by 1950.


Marriage

On 26 July 1921, he married Maria Teresa née Brockdorff, the daughter of Frederick Brockdorff a
publisher Publishing is the activities of making information, literature, music, software, and other content, physical or digital, available to the public for sale or free of charge. Traditionally, the term publishing refers to the creation and distribu ...
from Imsida. They lived at 40,
Ta' Xbiex Ta' Xbiex () is a locality and Local Council in the Eastern Region of Malta with a population of 2,148 (estimated 2019). It is part of a small headland within the Marsamxett Harbour, right between the villages of Msida and Gżira. Etymology T ...
Wharf, Imsida. They had a son, Martin, went on to become a Labour Party candidate in 2013. On 11 January 1953, his wife died in their
Tas-Sliema Sliema ( ) is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the most densely populated town on ...
house. She was 55, and she died within two years of the death of Ellul Mercer's mother. The loss of his wife had a negative effect on Ellul Mercer.


Politics


Early involvement

Ġużè Ellul Mercer became involved in politics since 1919, before the establishment of the Labour Party. In 1924 he joined the committee of the Labour Party Club in Imsida, becoming assistant editor of the Labour newspaper ''Il Cotra ''(
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
: ''The Crowd'') in 1928 and its editor in 1930. In 1928, he penned a series of short stories titled ''Il-Ħrejjef ta' Barraminau'' in the newspaper ''Il-Ħmar'', with his writings being condemned by church authorities. The local police took the director of the newspaper, C. Satariano, and its editor, Ġużeppi Arena, to court over these writings. At first, they were fined for their actions but were found not guilty on appeal. Ellul Mercer had a heart condition, and on 24 April 1929, he tendered his resignation from the Executive Committee of the Labour Party, however he continued his involvement with the party, becoming president of his local Labour Party club in 1931.


After the Second World War

In 1945, Ellul Mercer was involved in the drafting of the new 1947 Maltese
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by the National Assembly. He was one of the main speakers for the ''Labour Front'', made up of the General Workers' Union and the Labour Party. The other main speakers were
Paul Boffa Sir Paul Boffa, OBE (30 June 1890 – 6 July 1962), was a Maltese politician and medical doctor who served as prime minister in the Colony of Malta after self-rule was reinstated by the British colonial authorities, following the end of the Seco ...
, Reggie Miller, Mosè Gatt, Indri Cilia, Leli Tabone, Nestu Laiviera and Turu Colombo. Ellul Mercer was elected on the Assembly's Working Committee and its Financial Committee. The Assembly met for its last adjournment on 7 March 1947. The main achievements of this Assembly were the return to self-government on 5 September 1947 and
universal suffrage Universal suffrage or universal franchise ensures the right to vote for as many people bound by a government's laws as possible, as supported by the " one person, one vote" principle. For many, the term universal suffrage assumes the exclusion ...
for those aged 21 and over. Electors were limited with one vote, used to elect representatives in a unicameral Parliament, the ''Assemblea Leġislattiva''. In 1947, the Labour Party won the general elections, but within two years the Labour Party suffered an internal rift following disagreements between its Leader,
Paul Boffa Sir Paul Boffa, OBE (30 June 1890 – 6 July 1962), was a Maltese politician and medical doctor who served as prime minister in the Colony of Malta after self-rule was reinstated by the British colonial authorities, following the end of the Seco ...
, who represented the moderate wing of the party, and one of its rising stars,
Dom Mintoff Dominic Mintoff ( ; often called ''il-Perit'', "the Architect"; 6 August 1916 â€“ 20 August 2012) was a Maltese socialist politician, architect, and civil engineer who was leader of the Labour Party (Malta), Labour Party from 1949 to 1984 ...
, who stood for a more radical and socialist approach. Ellul Mercer joined Mintoff's fringe, even if he had worked with Boffa since the 1920s. Ellul Mercer followed the decision of the Labour Party's General Conference, which had removed Boffa from the party-leadership. Ellul Mercer contested the 1950 general elections, but he failed to win a seat. In this election, although the newly renamed ''Malta Labour Party'', led by Mintoff, and the ''Malta Workers Party, ''led by Boffa, together gained more votes and seats than the
Partit Nazzjonalista The Nationalist Party (, PN) is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It is a Christian democratic, and conservative political party, and it has been also described as centrist or centre-rig ...
, the two leftist parties' inability to reach a compromise led to the formation of a minority Nationalist government led by
Enrico Mizzi Enrico Mizzi (20 September 1885 – 20 December 1950) was a Maltese politician, leader of the Maltese Nationalist Party from 1926 and briefly Prime Minister of Malta in 1950.Michael J. Schiavone, Louis J. Scerri, Maltese Biographies of the Twen ...
. Following Mizzi's death on 20 December 1950, Giorgio Borġ Olivier became Prime Minister, however this minority government was weak, with another election held in
1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the Uni ...
. Ellul Mercer was elected in this election, as well as in the successive two election in
1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito ...
and
1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...
, contesting the seat for the fifth electoral district, made up of Gżira, Imsida,
Tas-Sliema Sliema ( ) is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the most densely populated town on ...
and
San Ä iljan Saint Julian's () is a town in the Eastern Region, Malta, Eastern Region of Malta. As of 2020, its registered number of inhabitants stands at 13,792. It is situated along the coast, north of the country's capital, Valletta. It is known for tour ...
. In 1952, Ellul Mercer was involved in an activity by the Labour Party's youth association, organising lectures and seminars at the
Marsascala Marsaskala, sometimes written as Marsascala is a seaside town in the Southern Region of Malta. Originally a fishing village, it has grown into a tourist destination and a permanent hometown for an ever-growing population. The parish church, b ...
Labour Party club.


Deputy Prime Minister and Minister

Following the electoral victory at the 1955 general elections, Prime Minister Mintoff chose Ellul Mercer as Minister for Public Works and Reconstruction. On 9 March 1955, Ellul Mercer was elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party following Joseph Flores' resignation, who became speaker of the ''Assemblea Leġislattiva''. In the contest for the deputy-leadership, Ellul Mercer gained 217 votes, with E.C. Tabone getting 93 votes. On New Year's Eve 1956, Deputy Prime Minister Ellul Mercer broadcast the traditional message of greetings to the Maltese people. Ellul Mercer stated that the Maltese can look both to their future and their past with satisfaction, and that the country had managed to close the first, and most difficult phase, of the post-war reorganisation of its social and economic life. This would ensure the security, education and better living conditions for the whole Maltese islands. For the first time in Maltese history, children were to be provided with full-time education, which became free. Technical education was introduced, with unskilled adults receiving training. Ellul Mercer said that the country's industrial progress would be ensured, with the
Grand Harbour The Grand Harbour (; ), also known as the Port of Marsa, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks ( Malta Dockyard), wharves, and fortifications. Description The h ...
improved, an adequate water supply secured and afforestation plans. Ellul Mercer closed his speech by referring to the proposed integration of Malta with the United Kingdom, describing optimism for Malta's foreign-relations with the United Kingdom. As Minister for Public Works and Reconstruction between March 1955 and April 1958, Ellul Mercer completed a number of projects, such as the widening and reconstruction of traffic links at
Porte des Bombes ''Portes des Bombes'' (, , meaning "Bombs' Gate"), originally called ''Porta dei Cannoni'' (meaning "Cannons Gate"), is an ornamental arched gate in Floriana, Malta. It was built in 1721 as an advanced gate within the faussebraye of the Floriana ...
,
Floriana Floriana ( or ''Il-Floriana''), also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a Floriana Lines, fortified town in the Port Region, Malta, Port Region area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It has a population of 2,205 as of March 2014 ...
, and the reclamation of land leading to improved linkages and road-infrastructure in
Msida Msida (, ) is a harbour town in the Eastern Region, Malta, Eastern Region of Malta with a population of 7,623 (2021). Location The town is located just west of Valletta on the northeast coast of Malta. The neighbouring towns of Msida are Ta' ...
. Ellul Mercer was also instrumental for the extension and construction of schools. By March 1957, eighteen schools were built anew, with extensions constructed in many others. Eleven new schools were planned for in 1957, with the extension of the Ħaż-Żebbuġ school, and a new girl's secondary school in
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.


Writer, playwright and poet

Ellul Mercer viewed literature as a means to educate the Maltese people. He began his literary career in 1927, with his writings in ''Il-Ħmar'' and ''Il-Ħmara''. He also was a regular contributor to the monthly Labour magazine, ''The Knight'', where he wrote a diary of his experiences in the Second World War. He wrote hundreds of articles in the newspaper ''Il Cotra'' and in other magazines and reviews. His works include: * La Toqtolx (1927) * A translation of The French Revolution: A History by
Thomas Carlyle Thomas Carlyle (4 December 17955 February 1881) was a Scottish essayist, historian, and philosopher. Known as the "Sage writing, sage of Chelsea, London, Chelsea", his writings strongly influenced the intellectual and artistic culture of the V ...
(1928) * Ħrejjef ta' mingħul (1929) * Għall-Imħabba (1938) * Leli ta' Ħaż-Żgħir (1938) a
psychological novel In literature, psychological fiction (also psychological realism) is a narrative genre that emphasizes interior characterization and motivation to explore the spiritual, emotional, and mental lives of its characters. The mode of narration examin ...
, the first of its kind in Maltese literature. Ellul Mercer describes how ignorance can lead to exploitation. In 2012, this novel was made into a documentary-drama in 13 episodes intended for the benefit of students in the form of an educational audiovisual series * Taħt in-Nar (1949), his war diaries * A collection of short stories (1929–1952) * Naħal u Friefet (1949) (1957) - Being a two part anthology * Il-Martirju ta' Poplu (1982) - A posthumously published collection of his works * Firda minn Kelb


Death

Ġużè Ellul Mercer died in Tas-Sliema on 22 September 1961, aged 64 years. This was during the Political-Religious question between the Labour Party and the Maltese church; as a member of the Labour Party executive, Ellul Mercer was
interdict In Catholic canon law, an interdict () is an ecclesiastical censure, or ban that prohibits certain persons or groups from participating in particular rites, or that the rites and services of the church are prohibited in certain territories for ...
ed by the church, and was buried in the non-consecrated section of the ''Addolorata Cemetery ''in Marsa. In 1986, a monument to Ellul Mercer was erected in
Dingli Dingli () is a village in the Western Region of Malta, with a population of 3,865 as of 2021. It is from the capital Valletta and two kilometers () from the nearest town, Rabat. The village lies on a plateau some 230 metres above sea level, ...
. The monument is the work of notable local sculptor
Anton Agius Anton Agius (1933–2008) was a Malta, Maltese Sculpture, sculptor, best known for creating a large number of monuments around Malta. He was dubbed "the national sculptor" by former Maltese president Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. Early life Agius was bo ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellul Mercer, Guze 1897 births 1961 deaths Members of the House of Representatives of Malta Labour Party (Malta) politicians 20th-century Maltese politicians Burials at Addolorata Cemetery, Paola