Francis Henry May
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG (Chinese Translated Name:
梅含理) (1860–1922) was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.
, Lord Chief-Justice of Ireland. 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.
from 1889 to 1891.
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.
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.
, 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. 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. Since that incident, May used an automobile as his daily method of transportation.
In 1919, May was allowed to retire, due to ill health.
. They had four daughters.
He died at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He is buried at Clare.
, and May Hall was named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.
Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG (Chinese Translated Name:
梅含理) (1860–1922) was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.
, Lord Chief-Justice of Ireland. 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.
from 1889 to 1891.
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.
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.
, 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. 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. Since that incident, May used an automobile as his daily method of transportation.
In 1919, May was allowed to retire, due to ill health.
. They had four daughters.
He died at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He is buried at Clare.
, and May Hall was named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.
Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG (Chinese Translated Name:
梅含理) (1860–1922) was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.
, Lord Chief-Justice of Ireland. 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.
from 1889 to 1891.
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.
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.
, 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. 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. Since that incident, May used an automobile as his daily method of transportation.
In 1919, May was allowed to retire, due to ill health.
. They had four daughters.
He died at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He is buried at Clare.
, and May Hall was named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.
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Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
梅含理) (1860–1922) was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.
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 MayGeorge Augustus Chichester May
George Augustus Chichester May PC, QC was an Irish judge.May was born in Belfast, the son of the Reverend Edward May and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Magdalene College, Cambridge , where he graduated B.A. as 36th Wrangler and 3rd Classic in 1836, and became a fellow...
, Lord Chief-Justice of Ireland. May was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, 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 George William Des Vœux. He was also the private secretary to Acting Administrator Digby BarkerGeorge Digby Barker
General Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
from 1889 to 1891.
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.
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
Governor of Fiji
Fiji was a British Crown Colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the Head of State was the British Monarch, but in practice his or her functions were normally exercised locally by the Governor prior to independence ,...
and High Commissioner Western Pacific, a position he would hold until 1912.
Governor of Hong Kong
In 1912, May was appointed Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, 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. 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. Since that incident, May used an automobile as his daily method of transportation.
In 1919, May was allowed to retire, due to ill health.
Personal
May married Helena Barker in 1891. She was the daughter of Acting Administrator Major-General Digby BarkerGeorge Digby Barker
General Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
. They had four daughters.
He died at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He is buried at Clare.
Honours
- K.St.J.Venerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
- J.P.Justice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Suffolk - C.M.G.Order of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 1895 - G.C.M.G., 1919
Places named after him
May Road, a roadway in the Upper Mid-Levels District in Hong Kong IslandHong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, and May Hall was named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.
See also
- History of Hong KongHistory of Hong KongHong Kong began as a coastal island geographically located off the southern coast of China. While pockets of settlements had taken place in the region with archaeological findings dating back thousands of years, regular written records were not made...
Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG (Chinese Translated Name:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
梅含理) (1860–1922) was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.
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 MayGeorge Augustus Chichester May
George Augustus Chichester May PC, QC was an Irish judge.May was born in Belfast, the son of the Reverend Edward May and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Magdalene College, Cambridge , where he graduated B.A. as 36th Wrangler and 3rd Classic in 1836, and became a fellow...
, Lord Chief-Justice of Ireland. May was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, 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 George William Des Vœux. He was also the private secretary to Acting Administrator Digby BarkerGeorge Digby Barker
General Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
from 1889 to 1891.
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.
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
Governor of Fiji
Fiji was a British Crown Colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the Head of State was the British Monarch, but in practice his or her functions were normally exercised locally by the Governor prior to independence ,...
and High Commissioner Western Pacific, a position he would hold until 1912.
Governor of Hong Kong
In 1912, May was appointed Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, 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. 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. Since that incident, May used an automobile as his daily method of transportation.
In 1919, May was allowed to retire, due to ill health.
Personal
May married Helena Barker in 1891. She was the daughter of Acting Administrator Major-General Digby BarkerGeorge Digby Barker
General Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
. They had four daughters.
He died at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He is buried at Clare.
Honours
- K.St.J.Venerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
- J.P.Justice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Suffolk - C.M.G.Order of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 1895 - G.C.M.G., 1919
Places named after him
May Road, a roadway in the Upper Mid-Levels District in Hong Kong IslandHong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, and May Hall was named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.
See also
- History of Hong KongHistory of Hong KongHong Kong began as a coastal island geographically located off the southern coast of China. While pockets of settlements had taken place in the region with archaeological findings dating back thousands of years, regular written records were not made...
Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG (Chinese Translated Name:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
梅含理) (1860–1922) was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.
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 MayGeorge Augustus Chichester May
George Augustus Chichester May PC, QC was an Irish judge.May was born in Belfast, the son of the Reverend Edward May and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Magdalene College, Cambridge , where he graduated B.A. as 36th Wrangler and 3rd Classic in 1836, and became a fellow...
, Lord Chief-Justice of Ireland. May was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, 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 George William Des Vœux. He was also the private secretary to Acting Administrator Digby BarkerGeorge Digby Barker
General Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
from 1889 to 1891.
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.
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
Governor of Fiji
Fiji was a British Crown Colony from 1874 to 1970, and an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth from 1970 to 1987. During this period, the Head of State was the British Monarch, but in practice his or her functions were normally exercised locally by the Governor prior to independence ,...
and High Commissioner Western Pacific, a position he would hold until 1912.
Governor of Hong Kong
In 1912, May was appointed Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, 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. 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. Since that incident, May used an automobile as his daily method of transportation.
In 1919, May was allowed to retire, due to ill health.
Personal
May married Helena Barker in 1891. She was the daughter of Acting Administrator Major-General Digby BarkerGeorge Digby Barker
General Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
. They had four daughters.
He died at Clare Priory, Suffolk, England. He is buried at Clare.
Honours
- K.St.J.Venerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
- J.P.Justice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Suffolk - C.M.G.Order of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 1895 - G.C.M.G., 1919
Places named after him
May Road, a roadway in the Upper Mid-Levels District in Hong Kong IslandHong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, and May Hall was named after him. Also, the Helena May Foundation was named after his wife.
See also
- History of Hong KongHistory of Hong KongHong Kong began as a coastal island geographically located off the southern coast of China. While pockets of settlements had taken place in the region with archaeological findings dating back thousands of years, regular written records were not made...
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