Miss Agatha Barbara was born in Zabbar on 11th March 1923. She studied at the Government Grammar School in Valletta. Miss Barbara started her career as a school teacher. In 1948 she began to take an active part in politics and was the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, having contested for the first time the General Elections in 1947 in the interest of the Malta Labour Party. She was also the only woman candidate to have contested successfully every election held since. Miss Barbara represented the Labour Party in several international meetings and conferences and led official Government delegations to various countries. During the Labour Administration of 1955-58 and 1971-74 she served as Minister of Education. Immediately after taking this office, she embarked on the vast project of introducing compulsory and full-time education up to the age of 14 years. This educational reform became effective only five months after Miss Barbara took office as Minister of Education. Between 1974-81 she had the portfolio of Labour, Culture and Welfare. She was appointed Acting Prime Minister on several occasions. Miss Agatha Barbara was elected President of the Republic of Malta on 16th February 1982 during the Second sitting of the First Session of the Fifth Legislature of the House of Representatives. She was Malta’s third President having succeeded Sir Anthony Mamo and Dr Anton Buttigieg.
Miss Barbara died on February 4, 2002.