George Augustus Chichester May
Encyclopedia
George Augustus Chichester May PC
, QC
(1815 – 16 August 1892) was an Irish judge.
May was born in Belfast
, the son of the Reverend Edward May and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
and Magdalene College, Cambridge
, where he graduated B.A. as 36th Wrangler and 3rd Classic in 1836, and became a fellow of Magdalene. Called to the Irish Bar in 1844, he became Queen's Counsel
in 1865 and was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland
in 1875. In 1877 he became Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench for Ireland
and on the passing of the Judicature Act
became Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench Division of the Irish High Court. He retired in 1887 and died in 1892. He married Olivia Barrington in 1853 : they had ten chidren of whom the most notable was Sir Francis Henry May
, Governor of Hong Kong
.
According to F. Elrington Ball's definitive work on the pre-1921 Irish judiciary, though May was a considerable scholar he was not well regarded as a barrister and his appointment was greeted with some protest.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(1815 – 16 August 1892) was an Irish judge.
May was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, the son of the Reverend Edward May and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, where he graduated B.A. as 36th Wrangler and 3rd Classic in 1836, and became a fellow of Magdalene. Called to the Irish Bar in 1844, he became Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1865 and was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland
Attorney-General for Ireland
The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters...
in 1875. In 1877 he became Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench for Ireland
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
The Court of King's Bench was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England...
and on the passing of the Judicature Act
Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877
The Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1877 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that brought about a major reorganisation of the senior courts in Ireland.-Provisions:...
became Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench Division of the Irish High Court. He retired in 1887 and died in 1892. He married Olivia Barrington in 1853 : they had ten chidren of whom the most notable was Sir Francis Henry May
Francis Henry May
Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life and education:...
, Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
.
According to F. Elrington Ball's definitive work on the pre-1921 Irish judiciary, though May was a considerable scholar he was not well regarded as a barrister and his appointment was greeted with some protest.