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{{Short description|British colonial administrator (1860–1922)}}
[[Image:Hk15.gif|thumb|right|133px|Sir Francis May]]
{{Redirect|Francis May|the English maker of matches|Bryant and May}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sir Francis Henry May
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG|KStJ}}
| image = Sir Francis Henry May.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| order = 15th
| office = Governor of Hong Kong
| monarch = [[George V]]
| 1blankname = [[Chief Secretary for Administration|Colonial Sec.]]
| 1namedata = [[Claud Severn|Sir Claud Severn]]
| term_start = 24 July 1912
| term_end = 12 September 1918
| predecessor = [[Frederick Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard|Sir Frederick Lugard]]
| successor = [[Edward Stubbs|Sir Edward Stubbs]]
| order1 = 11th
| office1 = Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
| monarch1 = {{ubl|[[Edward VII]]|George V}}
| governor1 =
| term_start1 = 1902
| term_end1 = 1911
| predecessor1 = [[James Stewart Lockhart|Sir James Stewart Lockhart]]
| successor1 = [[Warren Delabere Barnes]]
| order2 = Acting
| office2 = Administrator of Hong Kong
| monarch2 = Edward VII
| governor2 =
| term_start2 = 21 November 1903
| term_end2 = 29 July 1904
| predecessor2 = [[Henry Arthur Blake|Sir Henry Blake]]
| successor2 = [[Matthew Nathan|Sir Matthew Nathan]]
| monarch3 = Edward VII
| term_start3 = 20 April 1907
| term_end3 = 29 July 1907
| predecessor3 = Sir Matthew Nathan
| successor3 = Sir Frederick Lugard
| order4 = 8th
| office4 = High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
| monarch4 = George V
| governor4 =
| term_start4 = 21 February 1911
| term_end4 = 25 July 1912
| predecessor4 = [[Everard im Thurn|Sir Everard im Thurn]]
| successor4 = [[Bickham Sweet-Escott|Sir Bickham Sweet-Escott]]
| order5 = 9th
| office5 = Governor of Fiji
| monarch5 = George V
| governor5 =
| term_start5 = 21 February 1911
| term_end5 = 25 July 1912
| predecessor5 = Sir Everard im Thurn
| successor5 = Sir Bickham Sweet-Escott
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1860|3|14}}
| birth_place = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1922|2|6|1860|3|14}}
| death_place = [[Suffolk]], England
| restingplace = [[Clare, Suffolk]]
| nationality = British
| spouse = Helena Barker, Lady May
| children = 4
| alma_mater = [[Trinity College, Dublin]]
| occupation = [[Colonial administrator]]
| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|c=梅含理|j=mui4 ham4 lei5|p=|por=}}
}}


'''Sir Francis Henry May''' (Chinese Translated Name 梅含理) ([[1860]] - [[1922]]) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial administrator who became Governor of [[Hong Kong]].
'''Sir Francis Henry May''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG|KStJ}} ({{zh|t=梅含理|link=no}}; 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==
==Early life and education==
May was born in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]] on [[March 14|14 March]], [[1860]]. He was the 4th son of Rt. Son. G. A. C. May, Lord Chief-Justice of Ireland. May was educated at Harrow 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]].
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 Hong Kong==
==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 [[George William Des Vœux]]. He was also the private secretary to Acting Administrator [[Digby Barker]] from [[1889]] to [[1891]].
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 [[George Digby Barker|Digby Barker]] from 1889 to 1891.<ref name="signs"/>


May would hold the office of Assistant Colonial Secretary in [[1891]] and Acting Colonial Treasurer in [[1892]]. He was made a member of the Legislative Council in [[1895]]. From [[1893]] to [[1902]], May was the Captain Superintendent of the Hong Kong Police Force, and Superintendent Victoria Gaol and Fire Brigade for Hong Kong between [[1896]] and [[1902]].
May would hold the office of Assistant [[Chief Secretary for Administration|Colonial Secretary]] in 1891 and Acting Colonial Treasurer in 1892. He was made a member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] in 1895.


From 1893 to 1901, May was the [[Commissioner of police (Hong Kong)|Captain Superintendent]] of the [[Hong Kong Police Force]], and Superintendent of Victoria Gaol and Fire Brigade between 1896 and 1902.<ref name="signs"/><ref name=Offbeat>[http://www.police.gov.hk/offbeat/795/eng/n07.htm Grandsons of siege victim visit Force], HK Police 'Offbeat', Issue 795, 23 March 2005</ref>
He held the position of Colonial Secretary for Hong Kong in 1902-1910, and became an acting administrator of [[Hong Kong]] in [[1903]], [[1904]], [[1906]], [[1907]], and [[1910]]. In 1910, May was appointed [[Governor of Fiji]] and High Commissioner Western Pacific, a position he would hold until [[1912]].

He was appointed to the position of [[Chief Secretary for Administration|Colonial Secretary for Hong Kong]] in April 1902,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27423|page=2334|date=8 April 1902}}</ref> serving until 21 January 1911,<ref name="Annual Report">{{cite news |last= Clementi|first= Cecil |author-link=Cecil Clementi|date= 1912|title=General Observations |url= http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/a1911/127.pdf|newspaper= Hong Kong Annual Report (1911)|page=24|access-date=5 October 2014 }}</ref> and as such was appointed acting administrator of Hong Kong during transitions totalling almost a year between governors in 1903-1904 and 1907.<ref name="signs"/> In 1911, May was appointed [[Governor of Fiji]] and High Commissioner Western Pacific, a position he would hold until 1912.


==Governor of Hong Kong==
==Governor of Hong Kong==
In [[1912]], May was appointed [[Governor of Hong Kong]], a position he occupied in his own right until [[1919]]. It was also his last post in the Colonial Service. May was the only Hong Kong Governor to be a target in an assassination attempt. When he arrived in Hong Kong from Fiji, he rode in a sedan, and was fired upon. May was not injured. Since that incident, May used an automobile as his daily method of transportation.
In 1912, May was appointed [[Governor of Hong Kong]], a position he occupied in his own right until 1918. It was also his last post in the Colonial Service.


May was the only Governor of Hong Kong to be the target of an assassination attempt. He was fired upon near the [[General Post Office, Hong Kong#1911 GPO|General Post Office]] as he rode in a [[sedan chair]] after arriving from Fiji in July 1912. May was not injured; the bullet lodged in the sedan of his wife. The gunman, Li Hung-hung, had a grudge against May. Several years before, this former Police Superintendent had imprisoned Li's father, an undesirable mainland immigrant.<ref name=happened>Eric Cavaliero, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=40111&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19980813&sear_year=1998 Pedder Street was where it all happened], ''[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]]'', 13 August 1998</ref> May used a car for daily transport from then onwards.<ref name="signs"/>
In [[1919]], May was allowed to retire, due to ill health.


On 22 January 1918, May personally negotiated with the remaining member of a gang holed up in the "Siege of [[Gresson Street]]", following a running gun battle through the streets of [[Wanchai]] in which five police officers were killed.<ref name=Offbeat/>
==Personal life==

May married Helena Barker in [[1891]]. She was the daughter of Acting Administrator Major-General [[Digby Barker]]. They had four daughters.
In 1919, due to deteriorating health condition, May was relieved of his duty as the Governor.<ref name="signs"/>
May died on [[February 6|6 February]], [[1922]] in [[Canada]].

==Personal==
In 1891 May married Helena Barker, the daughter and heiress of Acting Administrator Major-General [[George Digby Barker|Digby Barker]]<ref name="signs"/> of [[Clare Priory]] in Suffolk. They had four daughters, Stella, Phoebe, Iris and Dionne. Stella married [[Philip de Fonblanque|General Philip de Fonblanque]].<ref>Obituary, Major-General Philip de Fonblanque, DSO. ''The Times'' Monday, 8 Jul 1940; pg. 7; Issue 48662</ref> Iris (Olivia Helena) married [[Edward Johnston (orientalist)|Edward Hamilton Johnston]] the Sanskritist in the early 1920s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thomas |first=F. W. |date=1942 |title=Edward Hamilton Johnston, 1885-1942 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25221878 |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |issue=3 |pages=263–267 |issn=0035-869X}}</ref>

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


==Honours==
==Honours==
*[[Venerable Order of Saint John|K.St.J.]]
*[[Venerable Order of Saint John|K.St.J.]]
*[[Justice of the Peace|J.P.]] for Suffolk
*[[Justice of the Peace|J.P.]] for Suffolk
*[[Order of St Michael and St George|C.M.G.]], [[1895]]
*[[Order of St Michael and St George|C.M.G.]], 1895
*[[G.C.M.G.]], [[1919]]
*[[G.C.M.G.]], 1919


==Publications==
==Publications==
*"Guide to Cantonese Colloquial"
*''Guide to Cantonese Colloquial''
*"Yachting In Hong-Kong"
*''Yachting in Hong-Kong''


==Places Named After Him==
==Places named after him==
[[File:The church of SS Peter and Paul in Clare - memorial - geograph.org.uk - 2073410.jpg|thumb|Monument to Sir Francis May in Clare Church, Suffolk]]
[[May Road]], a roadway in the Mid-Levels District in [[Hong Kong Island]], and May Hall was named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.
[[May Road]], a roadway in the Upper [[Mid-Levels]] area in [[Hong Kong Island]], and May Hall of the [[University of Hong Kong]]<ref>[http://simondeblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/first-students-hostels-of-university-of.html The First Students' Hostels of The University of Hong Kong]</ref> were named after him. Also, [[the Helena May]] Foundation was named after his wife.<ref name="signs">{{cite book |title= Signs of a Colonial Era|last1= Yanne|first1=Andrew|last2= Heller|first2= Gillis|year= 2009|publisher=[[Hong Kong University Press]]|pages= 62–63|isbn= 978-962-209-944-9}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[History of Hong Kong]]
*[[British Hong Kong]]
*[[Charles May (police officer)|Charles May]], after which some "May" places are also named in Hong Kong, including [[May House (Hong Kong)|May House]].


==References==
{{start box}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
|width="25%" align="center"|Preceded by:<br />'''[[James Haldane Stewart Lockhart]]'''
{{Commons category|Francis Henry May}}
|width="25%" align="center"|'''[[Chief Secretary for Administration|Colonial Secretary]] of [[Hong Kong]]'''<br/>1902-1910
* {{NPG name}}
|width="25%" align="center"|Followed by:<br />'''Sir [[Claud Severn]]'''
* {{cite TIWW |article=May, Sir Francis Henry |page= 162}}
|-

|width="25%" align="center"|Preceded by:<br />'''Sir [[Henry Arthur Blake]]'''
{{s-start}}
|width="25%" align="center"|'''[[Governor of Hong Kong]] (Administrator)'''<br/>November 1903-July 1904
{{s-civ|pol}}
|width="25%" align="center"|Followed by:<br />'''Sir [[Matthew Nathan]]'''
{{s-bef|before=[[Alexander Herman Adam Gordon]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commissioner of Police (Hong Kong)|Captain-Superintendent of Police]]|years=1893–1902}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joseph Badeley (general)|Joseph Badeley]]}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James Stewart Lockhart]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief Secretary for Administration|Colonial Secretary]] of Hong Kong | years=1902–1911}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Warren Delabere Barnes]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Sir [[Henry Arthur Blake]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of Hong Kong]]<br>{{small|(Administrator)}}|years=1903–1904}}
{{s-aft|after=Sir [[Matthew Nathan]]}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=Sir [[Everard im Thurn|Everard F. im Thurn]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[High Commissioner for the Western Pacific]] | years=1911–1912}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=Sir [[Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott]]}}
|-
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of Fiji]] | years=1911–1912}}
|width="25%" align="center"|Preceded by:<br />'''Sir [[Everard F. im Thurn]]'''
{{s-bef|before=[[Claud Severn]]|as=Administrator}}
|width="25%" align="center"|'''[[Governor of Fiji]]'''<br/>1910-1912
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of Hong Kong]]|years=1912–1919}}
|width="25%" align="center"|Followed by:<br />'''Sir [[Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott]]'''
{{s-aft|after=[[Claud Severn]]|as=Administrator}}
|-
|width="25%" align="center"|Preceded by:<br />'''Acting Administrator [[Claud Severn]]'''
|width="25%" align="center"|'''15th [[Governor of Hong Kong]]'''<br />1912-1919
|width="25%" align="center"|Followed by:<br />'''Acting Administrator [[Claud Severn]]'''
{{End}}
{{End}}


{{Governor of Hong Kong}}
[[Category:1860 births|May, Francis Henry]]
{{Governors of Fiji}}
[[Category:1922 deaths|May, Francis Henry]]
{{Chief Secretary for Administration}}
[[Category:Chief Secretaries of Hong Kong|May, Francis Henry]]

[[Category:Governors of Fiji|May, Francis Henry]]
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Governors of Hong Kong|May, Francis Henry]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:May, Francis Henry}}
[[zh:梅含理]]
[[Category:High commissioners for the Western Pacific]]
[[Category:Governors of Fiji]]
[[Category:Governors of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:1860 births]]
[[Category:1922 deaths]]
[[Category:Chief secretaries of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]]
[[Category:People educated at Harrow School]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of St John]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Politicians from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:20th-century British politicians]]

Latest revision as of 08:52, 28 November 2024

"Francis May" redirects here. For the English maker of matches, see Bryant and May.

Sir Francis Henry May
GCMG KStJ
15th Governor of Hong Kong
In office
24 July 1912 – 12 September 1918
MonarchGeorge V
Colonial Sec.Sir Claud Severn
Preceded bySir Frederick Lugard
Succeeded bySir Edward Stubbs
11th Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
In office
1902–1911
Monarchs
Preceded bySir James Stewart Lockhart
Succeeded byWarren Delabere Barnes
Acting Administrator of Hong Kong
In office
21 November 1903 – 29 July 1904
MonarchEdward VII
Preceded bySir Henry Blake
Succeeded bySir Matthew Nathan
In office
20 April 1907 – 29 July 1907
MonarchEdward VII
Preceded bySir Matthew Nathan
Succeeded bySir Frederick Lugard
8th High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office
21 February 1911 – 25 July 1912
MonarchGeorge V
Preceded bySir Everard im Thurn
Succeeded bySir Bickham Sweet-Escott
9th Governor of Fiji
In office
21 February 1911 – 25 July 1912
MonarchGeorge V
Preceded bySir Everard im Thurn
Succeeded bySir Bickham Sweet-Escott
Personal details
Born(1860-03-14)14 March 1860
Dublin, Ireland
Died6 February 1922(1922-02-06) (aged 61)
Suffolk, England
Resting placeClare, Suffolk
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Helena Barker, Lady May
Children4
Alma materTrinity College, Dublin
OccupationColonial administrator
Chinese name
Chinese梅含理
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingmui4 ham4 lei5

Sir Francis Henry May GCMG KStJ (Chinese: 梅含理; 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[1]

May would hold the office of Assistant Colonial Secretary in 1891 and Acting Colonial Treasurer in 1892. He was made a member of the Legislative Council in 1895.

From 1893 to 1901, May was the Captain Superintendent of the Hong Kong Police Force, and Superintendent of Victoria Gaol and Fire Brigade between 1896 and 1902.[1][2]

He was appointed to the position of Colonial Secretary for Hong Kong in April 1902,[3] serving until 21 January 1911,[4] and as such was appointed acting administrator of Hong Kong during transitions totalling almost a year between governors in 1903-1904 and 1907.[1] In 1911, May was appointed Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner Western Pacific, a position he would hold until 1912.

Governor of Hong Kong

[edit]

In 1912, May was appointed Governor of Hong Kong, a position he occupied in his own right until 1918. It was also his last post in the Colonial Service.

May was the only Governor of Hong Kong to be the target of an assassination attempt. He was fired upon near the General Post Office as he rode in a sedan chair after arriving from Fiji in July 1912. May was not injured; the bullet lodged in the sedan of his wife. The gunman, Li Hung-hung, had a grudge against May. Several years before, this former Police Superintendent had imprisoned Li's father, an undesirable mainland immigrant.[5] May used a car for daily transport from then onwards.[1]

On 22 January 1918, May personally negotiated with the remaining member of a gang holed up in the "Siege of Gresson Street", following a running gun battle through the streets of Wanchai in which five police officers were killed.[2]

In 1919, due to deteriorating health condition, May was relieved of his duty as the Governor.[1]

Personal

[edit]

In 1891 May married Helena Barker, the daughter and heiress of Acting Administrator Major-General Digby Barker[1] of Clare Priory in Suffolk. They had four daughters, Stella, Phoebe, Iris and Dionne. Stella married General Philip de Fonblanque.[6] Iris (Olivia Helena) married Edward Hamilton Johnston the Sanskritist in the early 1920s.[7]

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

Honours

[edit]

Publications

[edit]
  • Guide to Cantonese Colloquial
  • Yachting in Hong-Kong

Places named after him

[edit]
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[8] were named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Yanne, Andrew; Heller, Gillis (2009). Signs of a Colonial Era. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 62–63. ISBN 978-962-209-944-9.
  2. ^ a b Grandsons of siege victim visit Force, HK Police 'Offbeat', Issue 795, 23 March 2005
  3. ^ "No. 27423". The London Gazette. 8 April 1902. p. 2334.
  4. ^ Clementi, Cecil (1912). "General Observations" (PDF). Hong Kong Annual Report (1911). p. 24. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  5. ^ Eric Cavaliero, Pedder Street was where it all happened, The Standard, 13 August 1998
  6. ^ Obituary, Major-General Philip de Fonblanque, DSO. The Times Monday, 8 Jul 1940; pg. 7; Issue 48662
  7. ^ Thomas, F. W. (1942). "Edward Hamilton Johnston, 1885-1942". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (3): 263–267. ISSN 0035-869X.
  8. ^ The First Students' Hostels of The University of Hong Kong
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Henry May.
Police appointments
Preceded by Captain-Superintendent of Police
1893–1902 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
1902–1911 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Hong Kong
(Administrator)
1903–1904 		Succeeded by
Preceded by High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
1911–1912 		Succeeded by
Governor of Fiji
1911–1912
Preceded byas Administrator Governor of Hong Kong
1912–1919 		Succeeded byas Administrator
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