Which of Malta’s governors was most eccentric? Let’s look at the governors’ list, which runs from 1813 to 1964. The first name up is Maitland, and Sir Thomas has no competition in eccentricity. His eccentric behaviour includes setting his bed on fire, three times, with him in it! General Sir Thomas Maitland, by John Hoppner - Thirlestane Castle Trust. Maitland was able and decisive but often appeared imperious, autocratic and dismissive, fully earning his sarcastic Malta ‘title’ of King Tom. Further, in the words of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Maitland was “…querulous, bad-tempered, and ill-mannered”. His dress was slovenly, and he overate and was frequently drunk. In modern terminology, he may have had “a substance abuse” problem. How could such a man be appointed to a governorship? Simply, Maitland’s abilities, decisiveness and capacity for administrative work outweighed his defects. In 1797, Maitland was commanding troops in San Domingo, Haiti, attempting to put down the slave rebellion led by Toussaint L’Ouverture. With troops sickening with tropical diseases and making no progress against the rebels, Maitland decided the war was unwinnable. Without orders,...