Sir James May, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir James May, 1st Baronet (born 6 November 1723 – died 8 November 1811) was an important Anglo-Irish politician. He lived a long life, seeing many changes in Ireland and the world.

Sir James May was born into a well-known family. His father was also named James May. His mother was Letitia Ponsonby, whose father was William Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Duncannon. This means he came from a family with connections to important people in Ireland.

What Did Sir James May Do?

Sir James May was a politician. This means he helped make decisions for his country. He was a Member of Parliament, often called an MP. An MP is a person chosen to represent a group of people in a government. They speak for the people who elected them.

Representing County Waterford

Sir James May was the MP for County Waterford. This is a county in the southeast of Ireland. He represented the people of County Waterford in the Parliament of Ireland for a very long time. He served as their MP from 1759 until 1797. That's 38 years!

Becoming a Baronet

On 30 June 1763, Sir James May received a special honor. He was made a baronet. A baronet is a title given by the King or Queen. It is a bit like being a knight, but the title can be passed down to your children. His title was "1st Baronet, of Mayfield" in the Baronetage of Ireland. This means he was the first person in his family to hold this title.

When Sir James May passed away, his son, Edward May, took over his title. Edward became the 2nd Baronet.