Dwight May facts for kids
Dwight May (born September 8, 1822 – died January 28, 1880) was an important politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He also served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
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Early Life and Education
Dwight May was born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. When he was about twelve years old, his family moved to Richland, Michigan. There, he helped on the family farm and went to local schools.
In 1842, he started attending the University of Michigan's branch in Kalamazoo. This school is now known as Kalamazoo College. He graduated from college in 1849. While studying, he joined a group called Alpha Delta Phi.
Becoming a Lawyer
In 1849, Dwight May married Amelia S. Kellogg in Sherwood. They had three daughters together. After college, he began studying law in Detroit. In July 1850, he officially became a lawyer, allowed to practice at the Michigan Supreme Court.
The next month, he opened his own law office in Battle Creek. Two years later, he moved to Kalamazoo and started working with another lawyer, Marsh Giddings. In 1854, he was chosen to be the prosecuting attorney, a job he held from 1855 to 1862. He also helped manage local schools for several years.
Serving in the Civil War
In 1861, Dwight May joined the Kalamazoo Light Guards as a private soldier. He was soon elected captain of Company I in the 2nd Michigan Infantry. He left the army for a short time that December to handle personal and legal matters.
On October 8, 1862, he was made a lieutenant colonel in the 25th Michigan Infantry while in Bolivar, Tennessee. He continued to serve in the army for the rest of the American Civil War.
May fought in many important battles, including Blackburn's Ford, Manassas, Middleburg, Vicksburg, Little Rock, and Clarendon. In June 1865, he took command of the 12th Michigan Infantry Regiment. Soon after, he received an honorary promotion to brigadier general before leaving the army on March 6, 1866.
Political Career
Dwight May was a member of the Republican Party.
Lieutenant Governor
In 1866, May was elected the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. The Lieutenant Governor is like a second-in-command to the Governor. He served from 1867 to 1869 under Governor Henry Crapo. Interestingly, his brother, Charles S. May, had also served as Lieutenant Governor a few years earlier.
Attorney General and Village Leader
In 1868, Dwight May was elected to the office of Michigan Attorney General. This means he was the state's chief legal officer. He held this position from 1869 to 1873, serving under Governor Henry P. Baldwin. In 1874, he was elected president of the village of Kalamazoo and was re-elected the following year.
Later Life and Passing
Dwight May passed away at the age of fifty-seven. He was buried at Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
