Margaret Edith (May) Tennant, CH (1869 – 11 July 1946), née Abraham, born in Rathgar, County Dublin, Ireland, was a civil servant, trade unionist, factory inspector, and campaigner, who worked to improve conditions for industrial workers and was also involved in women's health and education. She was one of the first people to be appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1917.
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Early life
May was born and raised in Rathgar, a neighbourhood in Dublin County. Her father, Dr. George W. Abraham, was a Dublin lawyer. He died in 1887, leaving the family impoverished but not without connections. With a letter of introduction to Lady Dilke, May left Rathgar and moved to London in search of employment.
Trade unionism
In London she became secretary to Emilia, Lady Dilke, who was a leader of the Women's Trade Union League, an organisation of which Tennant became treasurer. She supported the London Dock Strike of 1889 and helped organise laundresses.