Mitchell May (July 10, 1870 – March 24, 1961) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. From 1899 to 1901, he served 1 term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Life
He attended the public schools and Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1892, was admitted to the bar in 1893, and commenced practice in Brooklyn.
Congress
May was elected as a
USDemocrat to the 56th United States Congress, and served from March 4, 1899, to March 3, 1901. From 1906 to 1910, he was a member of the New York City Board of Education. He was an Assistant District Attorney of Kings County from 1910 to 1911.
Later political career
He was Secretary of State of New York from 1913 to 1914, elected in 1912, but defeated for re-election in 1914. He was county judge of Kings County from 1916 to 1921, and was a justice of the New York State Supreme Court from 1922 to 1940, when he retired after reaching the constitutional age limit. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law.
Later career
According to a biographer of Governor
Al Smith, May played a role in desegregating a New York
country club. As told by
Hugh Carey, Smith and May were about to tee off when club officials attempted to stop them because of May's religion—the club did not admit Jewish members. Smith replied that either May would play the round with him, or Smith would have the
golf course turned into a state park within a week. They played, and the club changed its membership policy.
Entertainment industry
May was acquainted with several people involved in the entertainment industry, and presided over the ceremony for the second marriage of
Frank Capra.
Death and burial
He died on May 24, 1961, and was buried at
Staten Island's Valhalla Cemetery, also known as Ocean View. May was the last surviving Representative to have served in the 19th century.
Religion
He was of
Judaism faith.
[ Stone, Kurt F. " The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members, (2011). Pages 71–73. .]
See also
-
List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
External links
