Albert Montefiore Hyamson (1875–1954)

Albert Montefiore Hyamson was born to a distinguished Jewish family in London. After attending Beaufort College, he entered the British Civil Service at age 20 in 1895, and initially worked at the Post Office. In 1904, he became honorary secretary of the Union of Jewish Literary Societies. After World War I broke out, Hyamson became one of the most active writers in support of Zionism, frequently contributing pieces to major media outlets such as the New Statesman. By 1917, Hyamson had become the editor of The Zionist Review. Then he began working for the British Administration of Palestine and was made Chief Immigration Officer from 1921 to 1934. He felt the job put him in an impossible position in which he was criticized by both Arabs and Jews. In1934, he returned to England, where he was active in Anglo-Jewish intellectual life. Hyamson published many books and articles, mainly historical subjects and reference works. These included The Sephardim of England (1951), A History of the Jews in England (1908, 1928), Palestine Old and New, a travel guide (1928), and A Dictionary of International Affairs (1946). He was named a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Hyamson was president of the Jewish Historical Society of England from 1945 to 1947, and Honorary Editor of Publications for the society from 1944 until his death in 1954.