Background
Knight was the son of William Brodnax of Godmersham, Kent and his wife Anne May and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford.
Knight was the son of William Brodnax of Godmersham, Kent and his wife Anne May and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford.
In 1726, he changed his name by a 1726 Acting of Parliament to May on inheriting May estates at Rawmere. In 1732 he rebuilt his seat at Godmersham. He served as Sheriff of Kent for 1729.
He also inherited Chawton Park.
In 1742 he enclosed a park round his seat at Godmersham. Knight died at Godmersham in 1781, "a gentleman, whose eminent worth is still remembered by many now living.
Whose high character for upright conduct and integrity, rendered his life as honorable as it was good, and caused his death to be lamented by every one as a public loss". May married Jane Monke, daughter of William Monke of Shoreham at Grey"s Inn Chape on 11 July 1729.
Their son Thomas inherited the estate and was later Member of Parliament for Kent.
8th Parliament of Great Britain]
As May, he was elected Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Canterbury in 1734, and held the seat until 1741.