Filippo: the first judge (1824-1887)
Judge Filippo Pullicino, whose visage was immortalized in an oil painting by the renowned Lazzaro Pisani in 1882 (presently in the possession of Robert Pullicino), was a prominent figure in Maltese history.
Filippo was born in 1824. He was baptised the same day at St Dominic church in ‘Porto Salvo’ Valletta.
On the 26th of August, 1856, Filippo married Carmela Parnis, the daughter of Dottor Michele Parnis, at the Carmelite Church in Valletta. They were blessed with seven children, though tragically, four didn’t survive to adulthood.
Their first child, Giovanni, was born on 17 July 1857, who followed his father’s footsteps is also an important figure in the family history. His life is described in the section below.
The second child, Paolo, was born in January 1861, but tragically succumbed to cholera at a young age of four in Sliema on 16 August 1865. Their third child, Giuseppe, born on 25 October 1863, had a short life as well, passing away in October 1882, shy of his 19th birthday. The diaries tell us he died of a convulsive attack lasting about 21 hours.
Two daughters died young: Marianna, born on 2 January 1866 and died on 4 July 1872, never saw her 7th birthday. Paolina, born on 18 December 1867 and died on 19 September 1869, lived for 1 year and 9 months.
A third daughter, Giulia, was born 6 March 1870, with a death date that remains unknown, but she did get married to Walter Briffa, and she appears in the 1911 wedding photograph.
The youngest, Maria Luisa, born on 29 December 1873, married John Said, and their children adopted the surname ‘Said Pullicino’. The Said Pullicinos became their own significant branch of the family.
Filippo Pullicino was appointed as an Assessor to Bishop Pace on 8 August 1857, and he also served on the Council of Government. He earned his Judge appointment on 4 January 1873, a testament to his unwavering dedication to justice.
In 1887, he was laid to rest at the Zebbug Parish Church (No. 63) Chapel of Holy Souls.
Giovanni: a second judge (1857-1919)
Following in his father’s path, Giovanni Pullicino, born to Filippo and Carmela, married Giorgina Mifsud, daughter of Dr. Pasquale Mifsud, on 11 February 1885 at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta. Giorgina was born in 1861 and passed away on 22 November 1923. The couple had six children, with three suffering untimely deaths.
Giovanni Pullicino graduated as a Doctor of Laws on 28 July 1877. At the incredibly young age of 24, in September 1881, he was appointed Professor of Civil and Canon Law at the University.
He ascended into the judiciary in 1895, and in 1913, he was Chief Justice and Acting President of the Courts. When he was passed over for a permanent position as President in 1915, he asked to be moved to the commercial court.
His invaluable contribution to organising the International Eucharistic Congress held in Malta that year was acknowledged by Pope Pius X, who honored him with the title of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory.
Giovanni’s life came to an end on 4 February 1919 while writing out a judgement of the Court, succumbing to a stroke at his residence, 66 Strada San Paolo. His final resting place is at the Addolorata Cemetery.
If you are interested, you can read an excellent detailed biography by Dr Albert Ganado, and a Times of Malta article from 2023.
He had six children, four of whom survived to adulthood .
The next chapter is about his son, ‘Sir Philip’ (Fillipo), who also became a judge.