Humphrey May

Sir Humphrey May (1573 – 9 June 1630) was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1605 and 1629. Career May was the fourth son of Richard May, Merchant Taylor of London. He matriculated from St John's College, Oxford on 25 October 1588, graduated B.A. on 3 March 1592, and became student of the Middle Temple in 1592. In February 1604, he was groom of the King's privy chamber. May was elected Member of Parliament for Beeralston at a by-election in 1605. In 1613 he was sent to Calais to prevent the Earl of Essex and Henry Howard fighting a duel. In 1614 he was elected MP for Westminster. He was elected MP for Lancaster in 1621. In 1624, he was elected MP for Lancaster and also for Leicester and chose to sit for Leicester. In 1625 he was elected MP for Lancaster and Leicester again, but this time chose to sit for Lancaster. He was elected MP for Leicester again in 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.