Samuel Joseph May (1797–1871): Architect of Moral Reform and Monumental Vision Samuel Joseph May (September 12, 1797 – July 1, 1871) stands as a pivotal figure in the annals of nineteenth-century American reform—a man whose unwavering conviction in moral righteousness propelled him to champion education, women’s rights, and above all, the abolition of slavery. Born into Boston's elite Sewall family, May’s formative years were steeped in Unitarian intellectualism, nurtured by mentors like Noah Worcester and James Freeman, shaping his lifelong commitment to peaceful opposition and social justi…