Ronald Storrs

Sir Ronald Henry Amherst Storrs (19 November 1881 – 1 November 1955) was an official in the British Foreign Office. He served as Oriental Secretary in Cairo, Military Governor of Jerusalem, Governor of Cyprus, and Governor of Northern Rhodesia.

Early life and education Storrs was born on 19 November 1881 in Bury St Edmunds to John Storrs, the then vicar of St Peter's Church and later Dean of Rochester, and Lucy Anna Marie Cust. One of six siblings, Storrs was the brother of Francis Storrs, an academic and intelligence agent, Monica Storrs, a missionary, and Christopher Storrs, an Anglican bishop. Storrs was the maternal cousin of Peregrine Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow.

Palestine

In 1917, Storrs became Military Governor of Jerusalem, within the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration, for which purpose he was given the British Army rank of colonel. He claimed to be "the first military governor of Jerusalem since Pontius Pilate". He was in fact the second British military governor of Jerusalem, succeeding Brigadier General Neville Travers Borton, also known as Borton Pasha, who resigned after two weeks due to ill health. In 1919, Storrs was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy.

The 1920 Nebi Musa riots occurred during his military governorship, and the following year he became Civil Governor of Jerusalem and Judea. In both positions he attempted to support Zionism while protecting the rights of the Arab inhabitants of Palestine, and thus earned the hostility of both sides. Recent research by Moya Tönnies argues that, within his scope of action, he in fact acted against political Zionism. He devoted much of his time to cultural matters, including town planning, and to the Pro-Jerusalem Society, a cultural organisation that he founded. Storrs acted as President of the Society. In 1918, he issued a requirement that all buildings in the city be faced with Jerusalem stone to maintain a consistent appearance. His aesthetic interventions have been analysed as politically motivated pro-Arab "Colonial Diplomacy through Art." Kamil al-Husayni was the first to hold the position.

Palestine's first chess club was the International Chess Club founded in Jerusalem in 1918 by Storrs. The International Chess Club was an expression of the hope that it would unite the different nations – local Arabs and Jews, and European Christians of various nations who were then stationed in the city – and help promote peace and understanding. The club closed within a year due to the increasing tensions between the Arabs and Jews. A chess enthusiast, Storrs also helped to organise in 1919 the city's first championship which was won by Shaul Gordon, the founder of Mercantile Bank.

In Jerusalem, Storrs co-published a book dedicated to his uncle Harry Cust in 1918. He arranged for its printing by at the Stamperia Francescana in the Old City.

Later years Storrs was one of the six pallbearers at the funeral of T.E. Lawrence in 1935. In 1937, he published his memoirs Orientations. Between 1937 and 1945 he served on the London County Council, and during the Second World War he broadcast for the Ministry of Information.

Personal life

In 1923, Storrs married Louisa Lucy Storrs (, formerly Clowes).

On 1 November 1955, Storrs died at St Stephen's Hospital in Chelsea aged 73. Storrs is buried at St John the Baptist Church, in Pebmarsh, Essex.

Published books (limited edition of 128 copies)

Storrs, Ronald, Dunlop in War and Peace (Hutchinson & Co., 1946) – an account of the Dunlop Company and its importance during the Second World War.