HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The original building designed by Richard Lankasheer proved unstable and work started again in 1841 under new designs by William Scamp, who had been employed for some years as Clerk of Works to Sir James Wyattville remodelling Windsor Castle. Two days later the Bishop of Gibraltar carried out the first baptism when the seven-month-old daughter of the architect William Scamp was appropriately named Adelaide Frances Melita. Bonaparte Attacked Malta because he wanted to water his fleet on route to ‘The Battle of the Nile’ in Aboukir Bay. The Grand Master refused and so Bonaparte’s fleet blockaded the island and left a garrison of troops. Malta joined the British Empire willingly. They requested help from Admiral Lord Nelson who had defeated Napoleon in Egypt and he sent Captain Sir Alexander Ball to overrun the French and protect the Islands. Malta became an Independent Territory under the Crown until it achieved Republic Status in 1974.T he UK Military presence stayed until 1979