Arthur Johan May

{{Short description|Surinamese politician}} {{Infobox politician | name = Arthur May | image = | office1 = Prime Minister of Suriname (acting) | term_start1 = 5 March 1969 | term_end1 = 20 November 1969 | predecessor1 = Johan Adolf Pengel | successor1 = Jules Sedney | monarch1 = Queen Juliana | birth_name = Arthur Johan May | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1903|7|2}} | birth_place = Paramaribo, Surinam | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1979|2|8|1903|7|2}} | death_place = Leidschendam, Netherlands | party = Independent politician<ref name="independent"/> }} '''Arthur Johan May''' (2 July 1903 – 8 February 1979) was a Surinamese and Dutch civil servant, and served as acting Prime Minister of Suriname in 1969.

==Biography== May was born on 2 July 1903 in Paramaribo. He studied to become a civil servant. From 1945 to 1947, he was stationed in Commewijne District, and temporarily served as District Commissioner for Marowijne. In 1947, he was appointed government secretary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=arthur+may&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1970-1979%7C&identifier=ddd:011187726:mpeg21:a0004&resultsidentifier=ddd:011187726:mpeg21:a0004&rowid=2 |title=In memoriam Ex-min.pres. Arthur May|website=Vrije Stem via Delpher.nl|date=10 February 1979|access-date=22 December 2021|language=nl}}</ref>

In 1948, May was asked to form the first ''College van Algemeen Bestuur'' (cabinet) in the run up to the first election with universal suffrage. From 3 April 1948 until 18 June 1949, he served as president of the ''College van Algemeen Bestuur''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=arthur+may&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1940-1949%7C&page=2&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010480346:mpeg21:a0029&resultsidentifier=ddd:010480346:mpeg21:a0029&rowid=2 |title=Het Kabinet|website=Het nieuws Algemeen Dagblad |date=2 April 1948|access-date=22 December 2021|language=nl}}</ref>

After the 1949 elections, he moved to the Netherlands, and worked for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1966, he was appointed Director Western Hemisphere. In August 1968, he retired and returned to Suriname.<ref name="vrije">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=arthur+may&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1960-1969%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011020483:mpeg21:a0002&resultsidentifier=ddd:011020483:mpeg21:a0002&rowid=2 |title=Levensbeschrijving Arthur J. May|website=Vrije Stem via Delpher.nl|access-date=22 December 2021|date=7 March 1969|language=nl}}</ref>

In 1969, the government of Pengel fell. May was asked to form a temporary government.<ref name="independent">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=arthur+may&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1960-1969%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010554586:mpeg21:a0011&resultsidentifier=ddd:010554586:mpeg21:a0011&rowid=4 |title=Nu kabinet May dat van Pengel opvolgt|website=Nederlands Dagblad via Delpher.nl|date=7 March 1969|access-date=22 December 2021|language=nl}}</ref> From 5 March 1969 until 20 November, May served as acting Prime Minister of Suriname and Interior Minister.<ref name="vrije"/>

May died on 8 February 1979 in Leidschendam, at the age of 75.<ref name="obit">{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=1%7C20e_eeuw%7C1970-1979%7C&query=arthur+may+leidschendam&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:110607775:mpeg21:a0251&resultsidentifier=ddd:110607775:mpeg21:a0251&rowid=1 |title=Obituary|website=De Telegraaf via Delpher.nl|date=14 February 1979|access-date=22 December 2021|language=nl}}</ref>

== Honours == * Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau.<ref name="obit"/>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:May, Arthur Johan}} Category:1903 births Category:1979 deaths Category:Prime ministers of Suriname Category:Politicians from Paramaribo Category:Dutch_civil_servants Category:Government ministers of Suriname Category:Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau