William L. May

William L. May (* 1793 in Kentucky , † September 29, 1849 in Sacramento , California ) was an American politician .

May moved to Edwardsville , Madison County , Illinois and later settled in Jacksonville . On December 10, 1817, he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Madison County. From August 6, 1826 until his resignation on August 29, 1829 he was again justice of the peace, but this time in Morgan County . In 1828 May was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives . He later studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practicing. In addition, he operated a ferry company across the Illinois River near Peoria and organized the Peoria Bridge Co.

May was elected to the 23rd Congress to fill the seat in the House of Representatives that had become vacant due to the resignation of Joseph Duncan . In the subsequent elections May was re-elected and was thus from December 1, 1834 to March 3, 1839 a member of the US House of Representatives. May now moved to Peoria and started practicing again. In 1841 he became Mayor of Springfield . He went to California during the California gold rush . He died there on September 29, 1849 in Sacramento.

Web links

• William L. May in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)