Sir Humphrey May

Sir Humphrey May, politician, was buried "on the north side of the Chapel of Kings" (ie. the north ambulatory) in Westminster Abbey on 11th June 1630. He seems never to have had any marker. His son Richard was buried on 16th March 1644. 

He was baptised on 10th January 1574, a son of Richard May, Merchant Taylor of London, and his wife Mary (Hillersdon). Educated at Oxford he studied at the Middle Temple. His first wife was Jane, daughter of Sir William Uvedale and they had one son. By his second wife Judith, daughter of Sir William Poley, he had four sons and seven daughters. His heir was son James and son Baptist became prominent in Parliament. Humphrey was gentleman usher to Lord Mountjoy and Groom of the Privy Chamber 1601-1611. In 1613 he was knighted and among many other posts he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1618-1629 and Member of Parliament. At the accession of Charles I he was made a member of the Privy Council.

Further reading

History of Parliament online

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Portraits of him are at Ickworth House in Suffolk and Magdalene college Cambridge

Occupation

Politician

Location

North Ambulatory

Sir Humphrey May
North Ambulatory looking west

This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library

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