Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/May, George Augustus Chichester
MAY, GEORGE AUGUSTUS CHICHESTER (1815–1892), Irish judge, born at Belfast in 1815, was son of Edward May, rector of Belfast, by Elizabeth, eldest daughter of William Sinclair of Fort-William, co. Antrim. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in classical honours in 1838, proceeded M.A. in 1841, and was elected fellow. Called to the Irish bar in Hilary term 1844, he soon acquired considerable practice in chancery, and was made Q.C. in 1865. In 1867 he edited the first volumes of the Irish ‘Law Reports.’ In 1873 he was elected a bencher of the kings' inns, and in the following year was appointed legal adviser at Dublin Castle. On 27 Nov. 1875 he was made attorney-general by Mr. Disraeli, and on 8 Feb. 1877 was created lord-chief-justice of Ireland, and sworn of the privy council. On 1 Jan. 1878 he was transferred to the high court of justice as president of the queen's bench division and constituted an ex officio lord justice of appeal, retaining the title of lord chief justice of Ireland. In this capacity he should have presided at the trial of Charles Stewart Parnell and his confederates in the conspiracy against payment of rent in 1880–1, but having (6 Dec.) dismissed a motion for the postponement of the trial, he was loudly accused of partiality by the partisans of the traversers, and in consequence did not sit during the subsequent proceedings. Owing to failing health he resigned in 1887. He died on 15 Aug. 1892. May was a learned, painstaking, and impartial judge. He married in 1853 Olivia, fourth daughter (d. 1876) of Sir Matthew Barrington, bart., and had issue.
[Irish Law Times, 15 Jan. 1887; Royal Kalendar, 1866; Law Times, 20 Aug. 1892; Times, 12 and 30 Nov., 6 and 11 Dec. 1880, and 17 Aug. 1892; Dublin Gazette, 3 Dec. 1875, 9 Feb. 1877; Thom's Irish Almanac, 1871–8; Burke's Peerage and Baronetage; Haydn's Book of Dignities, ed. Ockerby.]