Vivian Wyatt wrote that Sir Temi Zammit “must have been known at school and at University by his official name of Fioravanti Sammut”.

While I have no evidence as to how Temi Zammit used to be known in his primary and secondary school days, this is not so as regards the University, which he attended from 1885 to 1889.

Sir Temi first took a two-year course leading to a degree in Pharmacy. During this time he had practical experience in a pharmacy under the guidance of Carm De Martino. Ten days after his final examination, on July 16, 1887, as Temi Zammit he signed a petition requesting the Medical Board to allow him to undergo the practical exanimations necessary to obtain the pharmacist warrant.

This petition had two enclosures: namely, an original stamped document issued by the University of Malta where Sir Temi is referred to as “son of Spiridione of Sliema” and the certificate of practical experience issued by Carm De Martino. In both documents, he is referred to as Temi Zammit and not Fioravanti Sammut.

Sir Temi sat for his practical exam on August 5, 1887, and was found to be qualified to be given the relative warrant. However, he did not collect this warrant before March 8, 1889. By that time, Sir Temi had continued his studies to become a doctor, graduating MD in July 1889. He obtained his warrant in 1890.

The General Guide to Malta and Gozo, published in 1910 contains a list of medical doctors who had graduated between 1853 and 1907. Temi Zammit is included, but the name of Fioravanti Sammut is nowhere to be seen. The same publication also carries a list of phamacists in Malta and Gozo who had a warrant. Neither the name of Temi Zammit nor that of Fioravanti Sammut are included.