Toni Bajada
{{distinguish|text=Anthony Bajada, inventor of the “stay tab” press-to-open lid mechanism for drink cans}}
Toni Bajada was a Maltese spy for the Knights of Saint John during the Great Siege of Malta. He was born in Naxxar.{{cite book|title=Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 1 A-F|date=2009|publisher=Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza|location=Pietà|isbn=9789993291329|page=149}}
Siege of Malta
The most famous of the Maltese spies, Bajada is said to have learned the Turkish language during years of captivity. Disguised as a Turk, he infiltrated the enemy camps and along with four other Maltese spies of the era (Andrew Zahra, James Pace, Anton Cascia, Francis Xerri), played a crucial role in intelligence gathering for the Christian side.{{cite web|title=Toni Bajada The Maltese Messenger of the Grand Master|url=http://ilovebooks.com.mt/toni-bajada-the-maltese-messenger-of-the-grand-master.html|website=ilovebooks.com.mt|accessdate=22 March 2014}}
Personally chosen for the task by Grandmaster Jean de Valette, Bajada also became famous for swimming at length to carry secret messages in and out of the besieged cities of Birgu and Senglea.{{cite web|title=The Great Siege of 1565|url=http://www.sanandrea.edu.mt/senior/cyberfair/knights/5a.html|website=San Andrea School|accessdate=22 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118114822/http://www.sanandrea.edu.mt/Senior/CyberFair/knights/5a.html|archivedate=18 January 2012}}{{cite web|last1=Sciberras|first1=Sandro|title=Theme 1: The early years of the Order's rule|url=http://www.stbenedictcollege.org/stlucija/files/Sandro%20Sciberras/Form%203%20Option%20Maltese%20History/Form%203%20Maltese%20History%20Option.pdf|website=St Benedict College|accessdate=23 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323045718/http://www.stbenedictcollege.org/stlucija/files/Sandro%20Sciberras/Form%203%20Option%20Maltese%20History/Form%203%20Maltese%20History%20Option.pdf|archivedate=23 March 2014}}
Legacy
Toni Bajada continues to enjoy fame and respect as a folk hero in Malta, with streets named in his honour in Valletta, St Paul's Bay and Naxxar.{{cite book|last1=Bain|first1=Carolyn|title=Malta & Gozo|date=2007|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd|isbn=978-1741045406|page=25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p4S5qEp9zMoC&pg=PA25}}
In popular culture
Toni Bajada is the main protagonist of the book Toni Bajada The Maltese Messenger of the Grand Master (2001) by Italian author Emilio Lombardi.