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William May

1909 – 1962

Northern Irish politician

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About William May

Lived 1909 – 1962 (aged 52). William May was a British politician.

William Morrison May (8 April 1909 – 2 March 1962) was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.

May was born in Letterkenny, County Donegal, the son of William May JP, and educated at Methodist College, Belfast. In 1934 he married Olive Muriel Dickinson and had one son and two daughters - Jennifer married, firstly, Thomas Byng, the future Earl of Strafford and, subsequently, Sir Christopher Bland, Chairman of British Telecom. He served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force from 1936–39 and in the Royal Air Force from 1939-45 as a Wing Commander.

May was a chartered accountant in the firm of Quin, Knox and Co. During the Second World War he served in the RAF and was a Member of Lloyd's from 1954.

At the 1949 Northern Ireland general election, he was elected as the Ulster Unionist Party MP for Ards. He was appointed Minister for Education in 1957, also being raised to the Privy Council (Northern Ireland).

May died at his home, Mertoun Hall, Holywood, County Down in 1962.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
Methodist College Belfast
Positions held
Member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Also known as
William Morrison May, Rt. Hon. William Morrison May

People in William May's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William May's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William May?

Northern Irish politician (1909-1962)

When was William May born?

William May was born on 8 April 1909.

When did William May die?

William May died on 2 March 1962.

What was William May's occupation?

William May was a politician.

What nationality was William May?

William May was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William May

· Wikidata: Q8015275

· DBpedia: William May (Northern Ireland politician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William May. https://biography.guide/william-may-politician/

MLA: "William May." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-may-politician/.

Chicago: "William May." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-may-politician/.

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