Joseph Muscat (1934-2022), was born im Malta and at 18, was a clerk with the Royal Air Force. He restored antique models of ships at the National Museum and to do so, had to do a lot of research as there was little published information about the vessels of the Order of the Knights of St. John at the time. He also bought magazines, books and ship model kits from other countries so he could scrutinise more thoroughly the vessels’ smallest details. His work was something no one before him had really paid much notice to.
He attended St Michael’s Training College at, Ta’ Giorni, from 1969 to 1971 ith the aim of a teaching career. He used his research for his dissertation about the history of sailing vessels around Malta from the time of the Phoenicians until before the Knights’ arrival. He also presented a model of a gallery used by the Knights of St John. In 1988, Muscat, by now a maritime expert, was appointed secretary to the provisional committee of the Malta Maritime Museum. He continued being a ship model-maker, he carried out various restoration works on old ship models.
His passion led him to many parts of the world − travels he financed himself except once when he was awarded a one-month scholarship to carry out research in Venice. He spent the whole month going through old documents in the library and the archives of the Grand Priory of Venice.
His publications deal with the Maltese historical maritime theme, and a respected international authority on his subject, he participated in congresses, locally and abroad. He was an active member of the Malta Historical Society and the Society for Nautical Research of England.
In 2001, Muscat was decorated with the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika and honoured with the Croce dell’Ordine al Merito Melitense. In 2011 he was conferred a Master of Arts in Philosophy (Honoris Causa) by the University of Malta. He was also decorated by the Rabat local council with Ġieħ ir-Rabat in 2012.