Dr. Stephen C. Spiteri was born in Malta, 15 September 1963. Educated at St Aloysius College, B’kara and later at the University of Malta, Dr. Spiteri specializes in the military architecture of the Hospitaller knights of St John and the fortifications of the Maltese islands. He is the author of a number of books and studies on the military history and fortifications of Malta, the Knights of St John, and British Colonial defences. He is a founding member of the Sacra Militia Foundation for the Study of Hospitaller Military and Naval History. Dr. Spiteri is a part-time Senior Lecturer at the International Institute of Baroque Studies at the University of Malta, where he lectures and undertakes research on the history and development of military architecture, and on the art and science of fortification.