English architect. He was from a family of Sussex gentry, several of whom gained court appointments after the restoration of Charles II. He seems to have started his career in the household of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (in 1650–51 he was involved in removing the Duke’s works of art from York House to the Low Countries). He also met the painter Peter Lely around this time and for 25 years was to be his close friend. May’s artistic interests, combined with services presumably rendered to the exiled king during the Commonwealth, were appropriately rewarded in ...