A Naval Biographical Dictionary/May, Christopher
MAY. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 22; h-p., 21.)
Christopher May entered the Navy, 3 Oct. 1804, as a Volunteer, on board the Salvador del Mundo, flag-ship at Plymouth of Admirals Sir John Colpoys and Wm. Young. Removing, in June, 1809, to the Raleigh 18, Capts. Geo. Sayer, John Sheridan, and Geo. Wastell Hooper, he accompanied, under the first named of those officers, the ensuing expedition to the Walcheren; assisted at the capture, in Feb. 1810, off Beachy Head, of La Modeste, French privateer, of 4 guns (pierced for 18) and 43 men; participated, 23 May following, when in company, near the Skawe, with the Alban and Princess of Wales cutters, in an engagement with seven Danish gun-vessels, one of which was blown up and the remainder dispersed, greatly damaged; and contributed, 2 Nov. in the same year, to the capture of the Admiral Neil Sieul, Danish privateer, pierced for 16 guns but with only 10 mounted, and a complement of 28 men. After a servitude of eight months, as Midshipman, in the Braave, prison-ship at Plymouth, Capt. Edw. Hawkins, Mr. May, in Sept. 1812, joined the Fairy 18, Capts. Edw. Grey and Henry Loraine Baker; in which vessel, after visiting the coast of Brazil, he partook of the various arduous operations on the river Potomac connected with the expedition of 1814 against the city of Alexandria; and was present, in 1815, at the surrender of Guadeloupe. He attained the rank he now holds 2 Nov. 1815; and since 12 July, 1836, has been in command of a station in the Coast Guard.