Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

Chapter 7: The policies of “firmness and forbearance” during Henry Stork’s
administration in the Ionian Islands 1859-1864
Introduction
Throughout Gladstone’s temporary tenure of office in the Septinsula, the
Colonial Office had been searching for a replacement. However, all “distinguished
men had declined” since the Ionians were seen as “politically troublesome people”. 1
After Gladstone’s urgent departure from the Islands, Sir Henry Storks took up the
post. 2
Storks was born in London in 1811, the eldest son of a county judge.
Following his education, he joined the military and was commissioned an ensign in
1828. He rapidly climbed the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in 1832 and captain in
1835. He served with his regiment in the Ionian Islands in the late 1830s and early
1840s, during Douglas’s tenure as Lord High Commissioner, before becoming
assistant adjutant-general in the Cape Frontier War 1846-1847. In Mauritius he was
assistant military secretary from 1849-1854, then promoted to colonel. During the
Crimean War, Storks was in charge of British establishments in Turkey and promoted
to major-general in 1855. He supervised the final withdrawal of British forces from
Turkey at the end of the war and was afterwards employed at the War Office as
Secretary for Military Correspondence from 1857-1859. His successful military
record and familiarity with the Ionian Islands were among the reasons he was chosen
1 Colquhoun P., A Letter to Major-General Sir H. Knight Storks in reply to secret memorandum
transmitted by him to Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Laid Before the
House of Lords, (London, 1863), p. 5; Owen R., Lord Cromer: Victorian Imperialist, Edwardian
Proconsul, (Oxford 2004), pp. 26-29.
2 Carnarvon to Gladstone, Private, 1 February 1859, Gladstone Papers, Add. MS 44391.
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