Charles May (police officer)

Charles May (1818?-1879) was a British police officer who spent 34 years in colonial service in Hong Kong, where he served as the first head of the Hong Kong Police Force (1845) and head of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade (now Hong Kong Fire Service) in 1868.
Born in London to John May, Superintendent of A Division of the Metropolitan Police. May himself joined the force and left England in 1845 for Hong Kong.
May served various posted in the colony, from Police Magistrate, Acting Colonial Treasurer and Superintendent of the Fire Brigade.
May left Hong Kong on April 22, 1879, but died at sea near Singapore on April 25, 1879. Buried at sea, he is noted on the family tomb at Kensal Green Cemetery.
May was survived by his wife Harriet and daughter.