Mikiel Anton Vassalli

[saundersdb@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Prof. Donald B. Saunders)]

While visiting on Malta last fall I read the name of Mikiel Anton
Vassalli 
on a placque which identified him as the "founder of the Maltese
Language" 
and mentioned that he was briefly arrested by the French during their
occupation of the island in 1798.  I have searched several
encyclopedias
and other sources for information on this man.  Can anyone on this
newsgroup 
tell me where I might find a brief biography (in English) or other
information
about his role in the forming of the Maltese national identity?  I am
teaching
a course on European nationalisms in the 19th and 20th centuries but I
had not
known about this man before last fall.

Thanks to anyone and everyone in advance.  Please feel free to email
me directly.