Sir Francis Henry May (; 14 March 1860 – 6 February 1922) was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Fiji from 1911 to 1912 and Governor of Hong Kong from 1912 to 1918.

Early life and education

May was born in Dublin, Ireland on 14 March 1860. He was the 4th son of Rt. Hon. George Augustus Chichester May, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, and his wife Olivia Barrington. May was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Dublin, where a few of his predecessors to the Governorship of Hong Kong attended school. May received the 1st Honourman and Prizeman Classics and Modern Languages and B.A. in 1881.

Career

In 1881, May was appointed to a Hong Kong Cadetship after a competitive examination. In 1886, he became the Assistant Protector of Chinese and private secretary to Governor Sir William Des Vœux. He was also the private secretary to Acting Administrator Digby Barker from 1889 to 1891.

He was appointed to the position of Colonial Secretary for Hong Kong in April 1902, serving until 21 January 1911, and as such was appointed acting administrator of Hong Kong during transitions totalling almost a year between governors in 1903-1904 and 1907. May used a car for daily transport from then onwards. Iris (Olivia Helena) married Edward Hamilton Johnston the Sanskritist in the early 1920s.

He died at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He is buried at Clare, Suffolk.

Honours

  • K.St.J.
  • J.P. for Suffolk
  • C.M.G., 1895
  • G.C.M.G., 1919

Publications

  • Guide to Cantonese Colloquial
  • Yachting in Hong-Kong

Places named after him

thumb|Monument to Sir Francis May in Clare Church, Suffolk

May Road, a roadway in the Upper Mid-Levels area in Hong Kong Island, and May Hall of the University of Hong Kong were named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.

See also

  • British Hong Kong
  • Charles May, after which some "May" places are also named in Hong Kong, including May House.

References

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