|
ROBERT EARLE MAY was born May 10,
1866, in Glasgow, Scotland, the youngest son of John A. May, a native of
Paisley, and Helen Agnew, a native of Glasgow. His father was a major in
the Indian Army, serving under Sir Charles Napier at the capture of Scinde,
seeing service afterward at Delhi, in Afghanistan, Beluchistan and the
Crimea.
Mr. May was educated in the public
schools, Glasgow. After leaving school, he was employed in the warehouse
of Bell’s Glasgow Pottery, and before he was
twenty visited the larger cities of Scotland
as their commercial traveller. He was
in business for a short time for himself, but came to
Boston in 1888 and obtained a position with Jones, McDuffee & Stratton,
the largest exclusive crockery and glassware house in America. He became
private secretary to Mr. Jerome Jones, who for many years was head of the
Boston Commercial Club, Chamber of Commerce and other business
associations. At the present time he is superintendent of their large,
ten-story establishment.
Mr. May has been a tireless worker
in Scottish affairs in the city of his adoption. He is an influential
member of the Boston Caledonian Club, is an ex-Chief and has held many
other offices. In 1916, he was elected President of the Scots Charitable
Society of Boston (founded 1657). He was the most active member of the
Burns Memorial Association, and it was largely through his efforts that
the funds were raised for the Burns statue in Boston. He is a member of
the Order of Scottish Clans, the
Victorian
Club, and an honorary member of the British Naval and
Military Veterans. Mr. May is well known as an essayist and a writer on
historical subjects, many of his articles appearing under the
nom-de-plume of "Robin Adair." He is a member of the Union
Congregational Church, Boston.
Mr. May married, March 31, 1888,
Miss Isabella Campbell, daughter of Mary Donald and Duncan Campbell, of
Glasgow, Scotland. They have a happy family of one son and two daughters:
Earle Gordon, Jeannie Agnew and Helen Victoria. Their home is at Winthrop,
Mass.: Mr. May’s business address, 33 Franklin Street, Boston, Mass. |
